According to the website of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, on August 29, Xie Feng, the Chinese Ambassador to the United States, and his wife Wang Dan were invited to attend the 24th Washington Chinese Culture Festival. Ambassador Xie delivered a speech titled "A Day of Chinese Experience, A Lifelong Chinese Affection". The full text of the speech is as follows:
Dear guests and friends:
It is a pleasure to be gathered here for the 24th Washington Chinese Culture Festival, to witness this annual cultural event in the greater Washington region. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, I would like to extend my warm congratulations on the holding of this festival. I also express my heartfelt gratitude for the strong support provided by the government of Washington, D.C. I pay utmost respect to all the Chinese communities, overseas Chinese organizations, fellow overseas citizens, and friends from various walks of life who have worked hard to prepare this festival!
From 1999 to the present day, the Washington Chinese Culture Festival has been held every year as scheduled, and it has become a popular event. It has become a window for American people to understand China, and a bridge connecting the hearts of the Chinese and Americans. Today, Pennsylvania Avenue presents a flowing Chinese landscape, inviting every visitor to slow down and truly experience a profound, vibrant, and open China.
Experience the profoundness and long history of China. Five thousand years of Chinese civilization, from the simple and mysterious oracle bone inscriptions to the magnificent Dunhuang murals; from the melodious camel bells of the Silk Road to the soaring Zheng He treasure ships, Chinese civilization bears the spiritual imprint of the nation, containing the weight of history. It has also coexisted with world civilizations over the years. Thousands of years ago, silk, porcelain, and tea crossed the oceans, changing the lifestyles of people around the world. At this moment, friends from various countries here try on Han costumes, wield brushes and ink, savor the taste of tea, and personally experience the timeless charm of Chinese civilization blooming across the ocean.
Experience China's innovative momentum and vibrant energy. Today, China leads the world in new energy vehicle production and sales for 11 consecutive years. Artificial intelligence empowers the world through open-source, cooperative sharing practices. The low-altitude economy is creating a trillion-dollar new blue ocean, and humanoid robots are bringing surprises at sports events. Chinese-style modernization is rejuvenating ancient China and injecting strong momentum into cultural innovation. The Chinese "Trendy Labubu" made an appearance at the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup in the US and Mexico. The domestic animated film "Eight Immortals!" had a highly successful premiere in North American theaters, and diverse Chinese micro-dramas are becoming popular worldwide. I hope that everyone can inspire each other through interaction and learn from each other, thereby jointly writing a new chapter in Sino-American cultural exchange.
Experiencing China's openness and inclusiveness. China has implemented one-way visa waivers for 50 countries, and 240-hour transit visas for 57 countries, including the United States. The concept of "traveling to China at any time" has become a reality. In the first half of this year, foreign tourists visited China an astonishing 2.2914 million times, a 20.4% increase. Among these visitors, those who entered China without a visa accounted for as high as 77.7% of the total number of visitors. This summer, "China Cool" became a new global cultural and tourism term. Many foreign friends not only visited popular tourist spots in China but also integrated into everyday life, becoming "local residents." China's doors are opening wider, and there are more friends to be made. We look forward to more American friends coming to China, experiencing China firsthand, and becoming witnesses of Sino-American friendship and disseminators of Chinese stories.
Dear guests and friends,
This year is a "major year" for Sino-US relations. In May, the heads of both countries held a historic and symbolic meeting in Beijing, establishing a new concept of "constructive strategic stability between China and the United States", which provides guidance for the stable and long-term development of Sino-US relations. President Xi Jinping pointed out that Sino-US relations rely on the people, are based on civil society, are shaped by the youth, and are energized by local initiatives. The "5 years, 50,000" initiative proposed by President Xi was achieved two and a half years ahead of schedule, and young people from both countries have increasingly become a dynamic force in Sino-US friendship. Recently, the reunion between the American friend "Saicos" and the "Hero of Desert Control" Yin Yuzhen made headlines, demonstrating that people from both countries can work together to make the world a better place. Let us play a key role as bridges and bonds that promote mutual understanding and heart-to-heart communication between the two nations, and deepen and solidify civil and cultural exchanges between China and the United States, thereby injecting continuous civilian momentum into the new positioning of Sino-US relations.
Finally, I wish the 24th Washington Chinese Culture Festival a complete success! We welcome everyone to enjoy delicious food, witness performances, and experience the culture here. We are also looking forward to everyone taking this “one-day experience” and turning it into a lifelong “love for China” when they return to Chinese soil.
Thank you everyone!
