Mayor Daniel Lurie,
Vice President Shen Xin of Friendship Association,
Mayors, President Rafael Mandelman and Supervisors,
Colleagues from the Consular Corps,
Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,
Good evening!
Thank you for joining us to celebrate together the 77th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China.
My heartfelt thanks also go to friends from all walks of life for your support to China’s development, China-US friendship, and the work of the Consulate General. And of course, many thanks to the delegation from Guizhou, China for your amazing performance, and the display of cultural heritage.
Over the past 77 years, under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese people have forged ahead and made great achievements.
China has contributed to global development. In 2025, China’s GDP surpassed 140 trillion yuan, and has continued to account for around 30 percent of global economic growth. In the first half of this year, Chinese economy grew by 4.7 percent, injecting new vitality into the world economy.
China has embraced openness and cooperation. We have established 23 pilot free trade zones. The Hainan Free Trade Port is in full operation covering the whole island. China offers zero-tariff treatment for 63 countries. And China has become a major trading partner for more than 160 countries and regions.
China is a forerunner in innovation. China’s open-source AI models have recorded over 10 billion global downloads. Chinese robots have more extensive real-world capabilities, from firefighting to search and rescue. The emerging “new new three” — AI, robotics and innovative medicines — are benefiting more and more people around the world.
China remains committed to green transition. China now has more solar power installed than coal-fired power. New energy will be the mainstay. And China is determined to cope with climate change.
China is an advocate for better global governance. The four global initiatives on development, security, civilization and governance, as put forward by President Xi, have been widely endorsed, bringing much-needed stability and positive energy to a volatile world. Since it was put forward five years ago, the Global Development Initiative, for example, has delivered benefits to tens of millions of people through more than 2,000 cooperation projects.
This year also marks the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China as well as the first year of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan. A China that continues to grow and open wider will create broader opportunities of mutually beneficial cooperation for the rest of the world.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Last week, President Xi Jinping paid a successful state visit to the United States. The exchange of state visits between the Chinese and US presidents in less than half a year has milestone significance for China-US and international relations.
During their meeting, the two presidents added new substance to the vision for bilateral ties, and agreed to jointly build a constructive relationship of strategic stability based on respect, fairness and reciprocity. President Xi emphasized that China and the United States should, and absolutely can, achieve win-win results through practical cooperation, help each other succeed through healthy competition, properly manage differences by seeking common ground, and build peace by fostering mutual trust.
Under the strategic guidance of the two presidents, exchanges between China and the US have continued to expand and deepen. In 2023, it was in San Francisco that President Xi announced the “50,000 in five years” initiative. That goal was achieved two and a half years ahead of schedule. This time, President Xi has announced a new initiative to invite 100,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs over the next five years.
On American social media, “becoming Chinese” has been increasingly popular. China’s 240-hour visa-free transit policy has made it easier for Americans to travel to China at any time they want and experience the country firsthand. Recent US polls have also shown that American people are having a more positive view of China. All of this is bringing fresh energy and new momentum to China-US friendship.
And nowhere is that energy more visible than here in San Francisco, a city that has long been at the forefront of engagement with China, with generations of exchanges and connections across the Pacific.
Last April, Mayor Lurie chose Shanghai for his first international trip since taking office. His visit further strengthened the 46-year sister-city friendship between San Francisco and Shanghai. In June, San Francisco hosted the 8th China-US Sister Cities Conference. More than 300 representatives from dozens of Chinese provinces and U.S. states came together to discuss ways to deepen subnational cooperation and people-to-people connection.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As an ancient Chinese poem reads, “For those who truly understand each other, distance matters little. Even ten thousand miles apart, they remain close neighbors.”
It is in this spirit that we look forward to working with all of you to continue advancing China-US friendship. Together, we can turn what our two presidents have agreed into more exchanges, deeper collaboration, and more tangible results. And together, we can achieve success in building a constructive China-US relationship of strategic stability.
Finally, may the People’s Republic of China enjoy prosperity and her people well-being!
May the friendship between our two peoples keep growing!
Let’s go, China.
Let’s go, San Francisco.
Thank you.