At the invitation of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries(CPAFFC), Richard Nixon Foundation Delegation paid a visit to China from May 2nd to 10th , retracing former U.S. President Nixon’s first visit to China in 1972 , to commemorate the 100th anniversary of President Nixon’s birth and 41th anniversary of his first visit to China.
On May 3rd , the welcome reception entitled “Retracing Richard Nixon’s step in China, Strengthening forty years of friendship” was held by the CPAFFC at the Great Hall of People. State Councilor Yang Jiechi attended the reception and delivered a speech. Before the reception, he met the delegation in the Shannxi Hall. Mr. Xu Kuangdi, Vice Chairman of the 10th CPPCC National Committee and President of China-U.S. Friendship Association; Mme. Li Xiaolin, President of CPAFFC; Mr. Zhai Jun, Vice Foreign Minister; Mr. Zhou Wenzhong, Secretary-General, Boao Forum for Asia and Vice President of China-U.S. Friendship Association attended the meeting and the welcome reception.
State Councilor Yang Jiechi extended warm welcome to the delegation, and expressed his appreciation for the Nixon family and Richard Nixon Foundation’s great efforts in promoting China-U.S. relations and the friendship between the two peoples. He said that the China-U.S. relationship was at a critical stage of development and the two countries need to advance friendly communication at all levels, work together to strengthen cooperative partnership and build a new type of relationship. Mr. Christopher Cox, Grandson of President Nixon said he was proud of the development of the two countries’ relationship during the past four decades and would continue to work for the healthy progress of the bilateral ties.
Prior to the meeting, a seminar in commemoration of President Nixon’s first visit to China in 1972 was held by CPAFFC at the Great Hall of the People. The grandson of President Nixon, members of Richard Nixon Foundation, and both the Chinese and American witnesses of President Nixon’s first visit to China gathered together, to review this historic event and provid their suggestions on the future development of China-U.S Relations.
