（Sep.28, 2026, Chicago History Museum）

Distinguished guests,

Ladies, gentlemen, and friends:

Good evening!

Tonight, we gather here to celebrate the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China. First of all, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all our guests and express my sincere gratitude to all those who have long cared about China’s development and supported China-U.S. friendship!

This year also marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and the first year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. Over the past 77 years, through trials and challenges, the CPC has rallied and led the Chinese people in working tirelessly from one generation to the next, making a great leap forward from standing up to becoming prosperous and strong, creating the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and long-term social stability. In particular, since the 18th National Congress of the CPC held in 2012, and guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the CPC has continued to redouble its self-improvement, advance its own self-reform, and actively practiced a correct understanding of governance performance, leading the Chinese people of all ethnic groups in achieving the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects, and China is now advancing toward the goal of building a great modern socialist country in all respects.

——China’s economy today is highly resilient, while its sci-tech innovation capabilities have improved significantly. In recent years, China has maintained its position as the world’s second-largest economy and largest manufacturing country, and its contribution to global economic growth has remained around 30 percent. The “new trio” of electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries and photovoltaic products, together with the “new new trio” of artificial intelligence, robotics and innovative medicines, are driving the upgrading of China’s industries toward higher technology content, greater value added, and greener and lower-carbon development. China is accelerating its transformation from the “world factory” into a “global hub for innovation”, and from a global participant and contributor in science and technology to a global pioneer and leader. The momentum of China’s economic development toward innovation-driven growth, higher-quality development, and positive trend is expected to continue.

——The Chinese people today enjoy happier lives, while the ecological environment continues to improve. China has established the world’s largest social security system, continued to increase per capita disposable income, promptly and effectively handled natural disasters and other emergencies. Chinese people’s sense of security, fulfillment and happiness has continued to enhance. The Ethnic Unity and Progress Promotion Law has taken effect, and people of all ethnic groups in regions including Xizang and Xinjiang live and work in peace and contentment. Guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, China has made new achievements in greening the land and combating desertification.

——China today remains committed to opening up and promoting world peace and development. China has become a major trading partner of more than 160 countries and regions, the total imports and exports reached a new high, the “China Travel” boom has swept across the globe, and the “China Opportunity 2.0” is injecting greater certainty into the world. In the face of a turbulent and changing international landscape, China will never intervene in other countries’ domestic affairs, nor will it seek to export its ideology or model of development, but maintains to treat all countries as equals. Particularly, President Xi Jinping has put forward the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity and four Global Initiatives in the areas of development, security, civilization and governance, to promote the building of a better world and create a better life for people in all countries, which has been widely welcomed and supported by the international community. China also proposed to establish the World Data Organization and the World Artificial Intelligence Cooperation Organization, continuously contributing China’s wisdom to addressing new global challenges.

Dear friends,

This year is a “major year” for China-U.S. relations. The two heads of state have made reciprocal visits within six months, which is historic and unprecedented as a milestone. This year is also the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence. The past 200-plus years have witnessed friendly exchanges between China and the United States. Enjoying the most important bilateral relationship in the world today, China and the U.S  should work in the same direction and promote a stable relationship where cooperation is the mainstay, competition is kept within proper limits, differences are managed and peace can be expected, and explore a right path for major countries to get along.

——We need to implement the important common understandings reached by the two heads of state. In May this year at their summit meeting in Beijing, when President Xi Jinping and President Trump agreed on a new vision of building “a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability”. Last week, during their meeting in Washington D.C. the two heads of state agreed to further enrich the substance of the new positioning of China-U.S. relations based on respect, fairness, and reciprocity, providing new strategic guidance for the bilateral ties. The two countries’ government departments as well as local authorities should strengthen collaboration, translate the important consensus reached by the two Presidents into action, so that this relationship can better benefit the two peoples and people around the world.

——We need to properly handle differences and fulfill shared responsibilities. Differences between China and the United States are inevitable. The two sides should develop a correct understanding of each other, earnestly respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, and hold the line of no conflict and no confrontation. China’s position on safeguarding national reunification and territorial integrity is very clear. It is hoped that the U.S. side will adhere to the correct position of opposing “Taiwan independence” and handle the Taiwan question with prudence, so as to lay a solid foundation for China-U.S. strategic cooperation and the development of bilateral relations. In the face of various global challenges, China and the United States should take on their responsibilities as major countries, and strengthen coordination and cooperation in resolving regional hotspot issues and improving governance rules in emerging fields. In particular, through an intergovernmental dialogue on AI, the two sides should ensure that the development of AI remains under human control and serves the progress of humanity.

——We need to continue pursuing mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. China and the United States share extensive common interests for collaboration in areas such as trade, counternarcotics, and law enforcement, which has yielded a series of tangible results. Not long ago, according to a survey by the U.S.-China Business Council, 92 percent of surveyed American companies reported profits from their operations in China last year. Just a few days ago, the eighth round of China-U.S. economic and trade consultations reached new joint arrangements, including agreement to establish the Board of Trade and Board of Investment, consensus on reducing tariffs on about 30 billion U.S. dollars' worth of goods imported from each other on a reciprocal basis, establishing an agricultural working group, expanding coal trade, strengthening collaboration on financial services, discussing to increase direct passenger flights between the two countries, etc. This has opened up new space for expanding practical cooperation.

President Xi Jinping used to serve as local officials in 3 Provinces and 1 Municipality of China, and has attached great importance to sub-national cooperation between China and the United States. Today, China is a major import and export market for the U.S. Midwest states. The two sides have established more than 50 pairs of sister-state and sister-city relationships, which has made important contributions to the prosperity and development of both sides. We look forward to continuing to work hand in hand with friends from the U.S. Midwest to lengthen the list of cooperation and shorten the list of issues, so as to bring more benefits to our peoples.

——We need to deepen mutual understanding and friendship and consolidate the foundation of public support. During their meeting in Washington D.C., the two heads of state jointly recalled the history of the Chinese and American peoples fighting side by side to win the final victory in World War II more than 80 years ago, when some American volunteer pilots from the Midwest traveled to China to support its War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression, while Ms. Minnie Vautrin from Illinois protected thousands of Chinese civilians, and journalist Edgar Snow from Missouri traveled to the front lines to report on the CPC’s resistance efforts. Over 50 years ago, ping-pong diplomacy opened the door to the normalization of China-U.S. relations. Over 40 years ago, President Xi Jinping made his first visit to the United States, and his deep friendship with his “old friends” in Iowa has endured to this day. Over 20 years ago, a teacher from Pennsylvania, Mr. Ronald Sakolsky, donated $5,000 to support Chinese desertification fighter Ms. Yin Yuzhen in planting trees. Today, this sum has grown into a thriving forest.

The hope of China-U.S. relations lies with the people, and its future depends on the youth. The latest poll by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs shows that 57 percent of Americans support friendly cooperation and engagement with China, and American public sentiment toward China has continued to improve. Over the past two and a half years, under President Xi’s “50,000 in 5 years” initiative, a great number of young Americans have become “new friends” of China. During his visit to the U.S. President Xi has further announced an invitation for 100,000 young Americans to visit China for exchanges and study in the coming five years. We welcome young people from the Midwest to actively participate in this new initiative. We also welcome more American friends to make good use of policies such as visa-free transit, to visit China in person and see the country for themselves, so as to making continuous contributions to the development of China-U.S. relations.

Dear friends,

After 77 years of weathering storms and hardships, the Chinese people deeply understand that a better life and the world peace and development have been hard-won. We will remain unwavering in advancing Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development, and remain committed to being a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, and a defender of the international order. At present, we have come to another historic juncture for China-U.S. ties. As President Xi said, achieving the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and making America great again can go hand in hand, be mutually reinforcing, and benefit the world. Our Consulate General always stands ready to work with all of you to fully implement the important consensus reached by our two heads of state, promote exchanges and cooperation between China and the U.S. Midwest, help the China-U.S. relations move forward steadily on the right course, and join hands to create a brighter and more wonderful future!

Finally, let us raise our glasses,

To the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China,

To the continued prosperity of China and the United States, and the everlasting friendship between our two peoples,

To the good health and every success of all of you,

Cheers!