The Honorable Vice Chairperson Zhang Qingwei,

Party Secretary Zhou Zuyi,

Governor Zhao Long,

President Yang Wanming,

Distinguished guests,

Dear friends,

Good morning! To begin with, I would like to extend my warm congratulations on the successful opening of the Bond with Kuliang: 2025 China-U.S. Youth Choir Festival. Let me also take this opportunity to pay tribute to all friends who have long been committed to fostering friendship between China and the United States. 

The bond with Kuliang has been forged between our two peoples over the past century. It witnesses President Xi Jinping’s personal input in promoting goodwill between our two countries, and has become a precious asset for the stable, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. Today, more than 1,000 young people of about 20 choirs from both China and the U.S. are gathering here in Fuzhou, the “city of blessings”, to remember where we came from and sing the same songs side by side. I believe you will write more Kuliang stories of the new era.

Let’s sing aloud the song of peace together. Peace is the main theme of our time, and an eternal pursuit of humankind. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War. The history of China and the U.S. fighting together for peace and justice should not be forgotten, and our friendship forged amid the trials of blood and fire should be cherished. 

The world today is far from tranquil. Geopolitical conflicts keep flaring up, the Cold-War mentality is coming back, and there remains a long way to go to secure international peace. History has repeatedly proved that warmongering cannot bring lasting peace, and any war, be it cold war, hot war, tariff war or tech war, will produce no winner. 

For two major countries like China and the U.S., peaceful coexistence is our only right choice, and safeguarding world peace is our shared responsibility. Can the younger generation continue to enjoy the dividends of peace, or will they be plunged back into a jungle where might is right? This depends on our choice now. It is my hope that the youth of our two countries will sing of enduring peace and friendship, pledge never to be enemies, uphold peace hand in hand, and contribute your wisdom to bring our two countries to get over the pan-securitization predicament and leap over the Thucydides Trap.

Let’s sing aloud the song of friendship together. In recent years, our young people have drawn closer to each other through music. The video of One Voice Children’s Choir from the U.S. singing the Chinese song “Ru Yuan” (“As You Wish”) at the Temple of Heaven in January was liked by millions on the Internet. Our young people have engaged with each other heart to heart. Young Americans have actively taken part in President Xi Jinping’s “50,000 in five years” initiative and visited China on exchange and study programs. The shared love for basketball and more has connected our young people together, and pickleball has become a new bond for youth exchanges between China and the U.S. 

The Internet has helped us break out of the echo chamber, and the “digital natives” from both sides of the Pacific are mingling with one another at Xiaohongshu. From Ne Zha and Wukong to Chinese micro dramas and to on-a-whim trips to China, more and more young Americans have come to see a cool China. 

Facts have proven that the headwinds of geopolitics cannot stop our people from reaching out to each other, and that McCarthyism is doomed to end up in the dustbin of history. It is my expectation that our young people will better know and learn from each other, help people shake off pride and prejudice, sow more seeds of friendship between our two countries, and advocate for establishing a right perception toward one another and enhancing mutual understanding.

Let’s sing aloud the song of future together. To answer the question of the era, “Will the world become a better place”, we need to first find the right answer to the question of the century, “Will China and the U.S. find a right way to get along”. 

Since the start of this year, President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump have spoken on the phone twice and charted the course for China-U.S. relations. Both our countries are chasing our dreams, and both our people want a better life. We can become partners and friends. We need to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in various fields, and especially steer clear of various disturbances and disruptions. 

The youth are witnesses to and beneficiaries of China-U.S. relations, and also where our future and hope lie. Over the past decades, the youth have played an indispensable role in every important chapter of our bilateral relationship. The youngest Flying Tigers member and the youngest participant in ping-pong diplomacy were both under 20, and Ambassador Chas Freeman was only 28 when he became the principal interpreter during President Richard Nixon’s visit to China. 

Looking ahead, the future of China-U.S. relations will be ultimately created by our youth. I am glad to see that more and more young people from both countries are pooling wisdom for addressing AI, climate change and other challenges of the 21st century through forms such as young maker competitions and roundtable salons. It is my hope that the younger generation in both countries will strive to be a staunch force for world peace and development, empower China-U.S. relations and friendship with youthful vigor, and shoulder your responsibility for human future with ingenuity.

Dear friends,

As the lyrics of a classic Minnan song read, “Life is 30% circumstances and 70% hard work. Keep fighting and you will win.” The international situation is turbulent, and China-U.S. relations will not be smooth sailing. But this is exactly the time for the intrepid tide riders to brave the wind and surf the currents. Young heroes have kept emerging in the long river of history. When joining hands, Chinese and American youth have a lot to accomplish. I look forward to hearing you sing aloud, with passion and for friendship. May this get-together of Chinese and American youth be a great success and add another beautiful chapter to the century-old stories with Kuliang!

Thank you very much.