Consul General Wang Baodong’s Speech at 40th Anniversary Luncheon celebrating sister city partnerships between Chicago and Shanghai, Shenyang  

(July 24, 2025, Chicago)

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Good afternoon!

I am very delighted to attend the 40th Anniversary Luncheon celebrating sister city partnerships between Chicago and Shanghai, Shenyang. On behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Shanghai Municipal Government delegation and Deputy Secretary-General Liu Ping who are attending the event in person, and warmly welcome the Deputy Mayor of Shenyang for sharing his video remarks. I would also like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to the Chicago City Government and friends from all walks of life in the Windy City, who have long supported and enhanced exchanges and cooperation between China and the U.S.!

The sister city relationships established between Shanghai, Shenyang and Chicago have endured for four decades, standing the test of time. They not only represent an important chapter in the history of China-U.S. sister city interactions, but also serve as a vivid example of the in-depth and practical collaboration between our local governments. Since the establishment of the first sister-city relationship in 1979, China and the United States have formed 286 pairs of sister provinces/states and sister cities, building an important bridge of mutual understanding between our peoples. 

Shanghai, as one of the most influential cities in the world, has maintained close and fruitful cooperative relations with Chicago in various fields, including inter-governmental exchanges, economic and trade cooperation, educational and cultural interactions. Today, we will also have the opportunity to enjoy a remarkable performance by the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra, experiencing the cultural resonance between the two cities. Meanwhile, as one of China’s major industrial cities, Shenyang has been expanding cooperation with Chicago in areas such as manufacturing and cross-border e-commerce, injecting new vitality into their sister city ties.

These fruitful achievements are driven by the strong support of China’s high-quality economic and social development. As a major engine of global growth, China's economy has withstood the huge pressure and maintained a steady and positive momentum, with its GDP growing by a sound 5.3% in the first half of this year. New forms of productive forces such as the artificial intelligence, new energy, high-end manufacturing, and biotechnology are rapidly strengthening, and the country’s comprehensive national strength is on the rise. Shanghai is now accelerating the construction of a socialist modern international metropolis with global influence, while Shenyang is promoting the revitalization of its old industrial base underpinned by the advanced manufacturing. These effective development practices have offered a vast stage for sub-national exchanges between China and the U.S. We sincerely hope that the U.S. side seize the historic opportunity presented by China’s expanding high-level opening-up, complement each other’s strength with China, and jointly write a new chapter of win-win sub-national cooperation between the two countries.

As President Xi Jinping has pointed out, the hope of China-U.S. relations lies in the people, its foundation lies at the grassroots, its future rests with the youth, and its vitality comes from local level exchanges. The enduring and prosperous sister city ties between Shanghai, Shenyang and Chicago, are ultimately rooted in the mutual understanding and genuine friendship between the two peoples. Over the past 46 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, the China-U.S. relationship has forged ahead despite twists and turns, growing into one of the most important bilateral relations in the world. 

At present, President Xi Jinping and President Trump have stayed engaged, charting the course and steering the big ship of China-U.S. relations in the right direction. Recent high-level economic and trade talks between China and the United States have produced positive outcomes, and both sides are actively preparing for a new round of consultation. Earlier this month, the foreign ministers of China and the U.S. held a successful meeting in Kuala Lumpur, and reached common understanding on enhancing engagement, managing differences, and expanding areas of cooperation.

History has repeatedly proven that China and the U.S. stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. There is no winner in tariff wars or trade wars, and there is no way out for decoupling and severing supply chains. China is willing to work with the U.S. side, under the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, to foster a correct perception on each other, enhance mutual trust, and focus on common interests, so as to promote the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. This will better benefit the people of both countries and contribute more to world peace, stability, and development.

Thank you all!