On January 20, 2011, Chinese President Hu Jintao met in Chicago with Mayor Richard Daley.
Hu said that China and the US enjoy ever increasing common interest, expanding mutually beneficial cooperation and dynamic non-governmental exchanges since the establishment of diplomatic ties 32 years ago, making the bilateral relations more strategically meaningful and bringing huge benefits to the people of both countries. The development of China-US relations will be impossible without the active participation and warm support of the local governments and people of both sides. At present, the two countries have established 36 pairs of sister provinces and states and 161 pairs of sister cities. The bilateral local exchanges and cooperation have extended to all the fields of trade and economy, education, science and technology, culture and sports, playing an important role of boosting the development of China-US relations. As the bilateral relations move forward, the bilateral local exchanges and cooperation will enjoy more promising prospects.
He pointed out that Chicago runs at the forefront among the US cities in developing relations with China and maintains rich cooperation with China in the areas of trade and economy, education and culture. Chicago's Chinese language teaching program is the earliest and largest in the US. He hopes that Chicago, with unique advantages and a sound foundation will strengthen cooperation with China on energy, environmental protection, infrastructure construction, public health, education, science, technology and culture and continue to take the lead in boosting the bilateral pragmatic cooperation and enhancing friendship between the two peoples.
Daley, on behalf of the Chicago government and people, extended warm welcome to Hu. He said that his whole family went to the airport today to welcome President Hu Jintao. They feel proud of being able to receive President Hu. For the sake of common interest, the US and China should constantly step up the partnership of cooperation. Chicago's political and economic relations with China continue developing. The investment of Chinese enterprises creates job opportunities for the local communities and the mutual investment between the two sides should be expanded. Chicago is committed to deepening understanding about China through education, reinforcing the contacts between the people and building a brighter future for the bilateral ties. He hopes to make Chicago the friendliest American city to China and a gateway of China into the US. Chicago welcomes the investment of Chinese enterprises and the arrival of a larger number of Chinese tourists.
On the evening, Hu attended the welcome dinner hosted by Daley. Delivering a speech amidst warm applauses, Hu noted that China and the US, as the largest developing and developed countries in the world, enjoy a wider cooperation basis and shoulder heavier common responsibilities of boosting world economic growth, maintaining world peace and stability and promoting the sustainable growth worldwide. During his visit to the US, he agreed with President Obama unanimously that China and the US should do their best to jointly develop the partnership of cooperation based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. They believe that, following that direction, China-US relations will enjoy a more solid foundation, richer connotation and more vigorous momentum, the welfare of the people will be enhanced and the two countries will contribute more to world peace and development.
Hu emphasized that to develop China-US partnership of cooperation needs the strong support from the mutually beneficial economic cooperation. In recent years, the cooperation of central and western US regions with China has gained long-term progress, becoming a vivid miniature of China-US relations. China is willing to make joint efforts with the US to tap the potential of cooperation in the fields of finance, energy, environment and infrastructure construction. Both China and the US are big trade powers and beneficiaries of free trade and hence should set an example in building and improving the global trade system, accelerating Doha round of talks and resisting protectionism.
He pointed out that to develop China-US partnership of cooperation depends on the wide support and active participation of the people. Youth are the future of countries and hope of the world. The future of China-US relations, in the final analysis, relies on the joint efforts of youth of both countries. The exchanges and friendship between the Chinese and the US youth will create a better tomorrow for both countries and the world at large. He believes that China-US friendship is bound to continue to flourish and pass on from one generation to another with the joint efforts of youth of both countries.
He said finally that his visit to the US will end tomorrow. What they are doing today all aims at ensuring the Chinese and the US people and our future generations live a happy life forever and the world enjoys long-lasting peace and sustained development. The seed of friendship and cooperation we sow today will burgeon and harvest in the future and China-US partnership of cooperation will definitely enjoy a better tomorrow.
Daley said in his speech that President Hu's visit to Chicago is very significant. The US and the Chinese people enjoy a profound friendship and ever widening exchanges and cooperation. As an important global economic center, Chicago will strengthen trade and economic cooperation and cultural exchanges with China and try to maintain its global competitiveness and partnership with China. He believes that the historic visit of President Hu will lift Chicago's relations with China to a new level.
All the American participants at the dinner applauded warmly during President Hu's speech.
Senior Advisor to President Obama Valerie Jarrett, US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman, Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, Governor of Illinois Pat Quinn and people from different sectors of Chicago and Illinois attended the dinner.
Wang Qishan, Ling Jihua, Wang Huning and Dai Bingguo were present at the above-mentioned activities.