On the evening of November 15, 2023 local time, President Xi Jinping attended a welcome dinner hosted by friendly organizations in the United States in San Francisco of the U.S.

Amid warm applause, Xi Jinping delivered an important speech.

Xi Jinping first expressed his sincere thanks to the friendly organizations for hosting this event, and expressed his warm greetings to all American friends who have long committed to growing China-U.S. relations and his best wishes to the friendly American people.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the foundation of China-U.S. relations was laid by the two peoples. During World War II, the two countries fought side by side for peace and justice. The Chinese people never forget the Flying Tigers. The American people, on their part, always remember the Chinese who risked their lives to save American pilots. The friendship between the two peoples, which has stood the test of blood and fire, will be passed on from generation to generation.

The door of China-U.S. relations was opened by the two peoples. For 22 years, there were estrangement and antagonism between the two countries. But the converging interests enabled China and the United States to rise above differences, and the people's longing broke the ice between the two countries. The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in the two societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. He welcomes more U.S. governors, Congressional members, and people from all walks of life to visit China.

The stories of China-U.S. relations are written by the two peoples. Although the two countries are different in history, culture and social system and have embarked on different development paths, the two peoples are both kind, friendly, hardworking and down-to-earth. They both love their countries, their families and their lives, and they both are friendly toward each other and are interested in each other. It is the reaching out to each other by the two peoples that has time and again brought China-U.S. relations from a low ebb back onto the right track. President Xi is convinced that once opened, the door of China-U.S. relations cannot be shut again.

The future of China-U.S. relations will be created by the two peoples. The more difficulties there are, the greater the need for the two countries to forge a closer bond between their peoples and to open their hearts to each other, and more people need to speak up for the relationship. The two countries should build more bridges and pave more roads for people-to-people interactions. China and the United States will roll out more measures to facilitate travels and promote people-to-people exchanges. President Xi hopes that the two peoples will make more visits, contacts and exchanges and write new stories of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples in the new era.

Xi Jinping noted that "We are in an era of challenges and changes. It is also an era of hope." The world needs China and the United States to work together for a better future. China and the United States must handle their relations well, and should assume the vision, shoulder the responsibility, and play the role that comes along with their status as major countries.

Just as mutual respect is a basic code of behavior for individuals, it is fundamental for China-U.S. relations. China respects the development path and democratic system of the United States and is proud of the path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. The two paths are different, but both are the choice by the two peoples. They should be both respected.

Peaceful coexistence is a basic norm for international relations, and is even more of a baseline that China and the United States should hold on to as two major countries. It is wrong to view China, which is committed to peaceful development, as a threat and thus play a zero-sum game against it. China never bets against the United States, and never interferes in its internal affairs. China has no intention to challenge the United States or to unseat it. Instead, China will be glad to see a confident, open, ever-growing and prosperous United States. Likewise, the United States should not bet against China, or interfere in China's internal affairs. It should instead welcome a peaceful, stable and prosperous China.

Win-win cooperation is the trend of the times, and it is also an inherent property of China-U.S. relations. China is pursuing high-quality development, and the United States is revitalizing its economy. There is plenty of room for their cooperation, and the two countries are fully able to help each other succeed and achieve win-win outcomes. The two countries should promote dialogue and cooperation in areas including diplomacy, economy and trade, people-to-people exchange, education, science and technology, agriculture, military, law enforcement, counternarcotics, and artificial intelligence. To increase exchanges between the two peoples, especially between the youth, China is ready to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years.

Xi Jinping stressed that thanks to a century of exploration and struggle, China has found the development path that suits it. China is now advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts by pursuing Chinese modernization. China is committed to striving in unity to achieve modernization for more than 1.4 billion Chinese people. China is committed to prosperity for all to deliver a better life for each and every Chinese. China is committed to well-rounded development to achieve both material and cultural-ethical advancement for the people. China is committed to sustainable development to achieve harmony between man and nature. China is committed to peaceful development to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Throughout the 70 years and more since the founding of the People's Republic of China, China has not provoked a conflict or war, or occupied a single inch of foreign land. China is the only major country that has written peaceful development into the Constitution of the country and the Constitution of the governing party, thus making peaceful development a commitment of the nation. China will remain committed to dialogue and oppose confrontation, and build partnerships instead of alliances. It will pursue a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up. The modernization it is pursuing is not for China alone. China is ready to work with all countries to advance global modernization featuring peaceful development, mutually beneficial cooperation and common prosperity.

Xi Jinping pointed out that the passage of time is like a surging river - much is washed away, but the most valuable stays. No matter how the global landscape evolves, the historical trend of peaceful coexistence between China and the United States will not change. The ultimate wish of the two peoples for exchanges and cooperation will not change. The expectations of the whole world for a steadily growing China-U.S. relationship will not change. For any great cause to succeed, it must take root in the people, gain strength from the people, and be accomplished by the people. Growing China-U.S. friendship is such a great cause. Xi Jinping said, "Let us galvanize the Chinese and American peoples into a strong force to renew China-U.S. friendship, advance China-U.S. relations, and make even greater contributions to world peace and development!"

The audience burst into extended applause a dozen times during President Xi Jinping's important speech.

U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina M. Raimondo delivered a speech on behalf of the U.S. government, warmly welcoming President Xi Jinping's visit. Raimondo said President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping held an open, candid and fruitful meeting on that day. As President Biden pointed out, the United States welcomes a stable and prosperous China. Economic and trade cooperation with China has created a large number of jobs for the United States, and American companies have a strong interest in the Chinese market. The United States is committed to developing long-term and stable relations, strengthening communication and dialogue, avoiding misunderstanding and miscalculation, and managing differences responsibly with China with a view to creating a future of common prosperity for the two countries.

Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations Evan G. Greenberg, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the U.S.-China Business Council Marc N. Casper, and President of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations Stephen A. Orlins, among others, delivered remarks respectively. They said the important meeting between President Xi Jinping and President Biden in San Francisco and President Xi’s important speech to the American people are of extraordinary historical significance. Under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China has achieved sustained and rapid economic development, with nearly 100 million people successfully lifted out of poverty, and China has truly become a major country with important influence in the world. They noted that despite differences in history, culture and system, the United States and China are interdependent, with particularly profound friendship between the two peoples. This is the source of vitality for the long-term and steady growth of U.S.-China relations. As two important major countries in the world, the United States and China maintaining dialogue and cooperation is of crucial importance for both countries and the world at large. They reaffirmed their commitment to promoting mutual understanding between the two peoples and contributing to the improvement and development of U.S.-China relations.

Before the dinner started, Xi Jinping met with representatives of the US business community and other sectors as well as descendants of the Flying Tigers and General Joseph W. Stilwell, members of Kuliang Friends, and friends from Iowa, Washington State, among others. He had cordial conversations and took photos with them. Xi Jinping thanked them for their contributions in promoting friendship and understanding between the Chinese and American peoples, saying that the Chinese people will never forget their old friends. Xi Jinping expressed the belief that the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples and bilateral relations will passed on and continue to grow.

The welcome dinner was jointly hosted by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, the U.S.-China Business Council, the Asia Society, the Council on Foreign Relations, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and other friendly organizations. Nearly 400 people including members of the U.S. government and friendly organizations and representatives from other sectors were present.

Cai Qi and Wang Yi attended the above events.