Distinguished guests,

Dear friends,

It is my great delight to join you at the 23rd Washington Chinese Cultural Festival, an annual feast of culture in D.C. On behalf of the Chinese Embassy in the United States, I would like to extend my warm congratulations on the opening of the festival and heartfelt thanks to the Government of the District of Columbia for its support and participation. Let me also extend a warm welcome to delegations from Beijing and Shenzhen, and pay tribute to the Chinese communities, associations, and friends from various sectors, who have worked hard to make this event possible!

After two decades, the Washington Chinese Cultural Festival has become a shining symbol of Chinese culture, and built a unique and important bridge for the American people to understand China and its civilization. The theme of the festival this year is "Meet China". Let's jointly decode Chinese culture in this joyous atmosphere, and experience a real, dynamic and panoramic China.

Let's together meet an ancient and beautiful China. A history spanning over 5,000 years has nurtured a treasure trove of traditional Chinese culture, which has endowed us with not only abundant cultural heritages, but also a rich spiritual world. From "the four arts" to porcelain, Peking Opera and diverse cuisines, China's cultural icons abound, and have fascinated many American friends.

The festival this year brings together an exciting mix of cultural experiences. Today, you can learn Tai Chi, try your hand at traditional calligraphy and play the game of Go, which will offer a glimpse into the Chinese perspective on the universe and life, featuring unity between man and nature. You can also have a taste of China, and feel the beauty of harmony in Chinese cuisine. The cultures of China and the U.S. share a lot in common. I hope when exploring the unique charm of Chinese civilization, you will also find more resonance between our two cultures.

Let's together meet a modern and innovative China. A robust economy, booming high-tech industries, smart infrastructure and the bustling city life have all injected modern vitality into the ancient nation. Innovation is at the heart of China today. Powered by science and technology, cultural innovation has preserved the tradition, and at the same time enriched it with more fresh, vibrant elements. From the triple-A game Black Myth: Wukong which has over 3 million players globally, to "Ne Zha 2", the first animated movie that has exceeded $2.2 billion at the global box office, and to Black Myth: Zhong Kui announced earlier this month, the chemistry between Chinese culture and technology is captivating hearts around the world.  

At the First World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing recently, teams from 16 countries, including China and the U.S., competed alongside each other, and the human-machine dance "Spirit of the Terracotta Warriors"won the gold medal in the group dance event, showcasing the infinite possibilities when technology meets culture. As a Chinese proverb goes, "A single flower does not make spring; a hundred flowers in full blossom bring spring to a garden." I encourage you to interact with and learn from each other today, and contribute wisdom to how the cultures of China and the U.S. can draw on one another and flourish side by side.

Let's together meet an open and inclusive China. China's doors are wide open to friends from around the world. We now offer unilateral and mutual visa exemptions to 75 countries, and have expanded the 240-hour visa-free transit policy to 55 nations including the U.S. In the first half of this year, foreign nationals made over 38 million trips to and from China, up by 30.8% year over year. Among them, 13.64 million visited China visa-free, accounting for 71.2% of the total entries, up by 53.9% from the same period last year.

Earlier this year, American streamer IShowSpeed live-streamed his trip in China, showing the American people a safe, friendly and stunning country. The "China Consular Affairs" app will soon offer visa services in the U.S., so the American people can apply for a Chinese visa in just one click and embark on a trip to China whenever you like. We welcome more American friends to visit China, see it with your own eyes, become ambassadors of people-to-people exchanges, and help foster closer ties between our people.  

Distinguished guests,

Dear friends,

This year marks the 80th Anniversary of the Victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War. Eighty years ago, China and the U.S. fought against fascist aggression and defended peace shoulder to shoulder. Eighty years later, as the world's two largest economies and permanent members of the UN Security Council, our two countries should all the more bear in mind the common wellbeing of humanity, and join hands with other countries to safeguard world peace, stability and development. Conflict and confrontation produce no winner; dialogue and cooperation are what people truly want. As long as China and the U.S. uphold mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, we will surely find a right way to get along with each other, and advance the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations, to the benefit of both our two countries and the entire world.  

In closing, I wish the 23rd Washington Chinese Cultural Festival a great success! Let today's festival be just your first step toward discovering China, and come to our country and explore it for yourself one day. Believe me, it will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip beyond your imagination!

Thank you very much.