Guo Ningning, member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, together with Wu Xiande, mayor of Fuzhou, met with a delegation of Kuliang Friends on March 17.

Guo Ningning (center, right), member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, meets with a delegation of Kuliang Friends on March 17. [Photo/fznews.com.cn]

Guo Ningning thanked the delegation for their active engagement in China-U.S. exchanges and international friendship initiatives. She noted that the story of Kuliang is remarkable in the history of China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges, reflecting a deep friendship that has endured for over a century.

In recent years, Fuzhou has remained committed to the principle that "the hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in our societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels," said Guo. The city has diligently implemented the "50,000 in five years" initiative, continuously deepening China-U.S. youth exchanges in education, culture, and other fields while enhancing the "Bond with Kuliang" brand. She warmly invited the Kuliang Friends to pay regular visits to Kuliang and Fuzhou, join in sharing their contemporary stories, and help pass on the legacy of Kuliang's friendship and goodwill, further strengthening China-U.S. people-to-people ties in a meaningful and lasting way.

Elyn MacInnis, initiator of Kuliang Friends and descendant of the MacInnis family, Anne Mascolino, descendant of the Bliss family, and Charles Wang, associate vice-president for China & East Asia Affairs at the University of Arizona, talked about their relationship with Kuliang and the need to foster deeper mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of China and the U.S.

Fuzhou officials Zheng Yu and Liang Dong also attended the meeting.