Chinese Private Diplomacy Delegation Visits US... "Seeking to Improve Relations Amid Tensions"

Private Diplomacy Head of the Foreign Friendship Association: "Aiming to Deepen Friendship Between the Peoples of Both Countries"

China is continuing efforts to improve relations while tensions with the United States persist.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP) in Hong Kong on the 3rd, a Chinese delegation led by Yang Wanming, chairman of the China People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, visited the United States on the 27th of last month (local time) for a 12-day schedule.

The China People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries is a nationwide organization that carries out civilian diplomatic work. Regarding the delegation's visit to the U.S., the association stated, "The purpose of this visit is to deepen friendship between the peoples of the two countries (China and the U.S.) and to promote cooperation between sister cities," adding, "The meetings will be held at the civilian and local government levels." It also introduced that Chairman Yang would visit Washington D.C., Texas, Nevada, California, and Washington state.

Previously, in November last year, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed at the San Francisco summit to promote exchanges in various fields. Since then, exchanges between government officials, judicial institutions, and the military of the two countries have continued, and China is also focusing on building relations at the non-governmental and local levels.

At a welcome dinner hosted by the U.S. Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG) in Washington D.C., Chairman Yang expressed hope that American companies would play a greater role in stabilizing and developing bilateral relations. Two days later, at a symposium commemorating the 45th anniversary of U.S.-China diplomatic relations, he said, "U.S.-China relations have never been one-sided where one side advances and the other loses," adding, "The two countries have sufficient capacity to achieve mutual success and benefit from win-win cooperation."

After moving to Texas, he attended an Asia Society Texas event, urging young Americans to participate in exchange programs with China. The China People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries stated that various American figures, including former officials, attended the events Chairman Yang participated in. Established in 1954, the association played an active role in fostering a reconciliation atmosphere between the U.S. and China during the Cold War by facilitating 'Ping-Pong diplomacy' in 1971 and the Philadelphia Philharmonic's performance in Beijing in 1973. The U.S. and China ended their two-decade-long hostile relations when then-U.S. President Richard Nixon visited Beijing in February 1972 and held a summit with Chinese Chairman Mao Zedong, officially establishing diplomatic relations in 1979.

SCMP reported, "By sending the chairman of the China People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to the U.S., China is strengthening its charm offensive toward the U.S. through unofficial channels," adding, "Chairman Yang outlined this year's priorities last month, including strengthening cooperation with the New York and San Francisco regions." However, it noted, "Despite the increase in official and unofficial exchanges, tensions between the U.S. and China remain high," mentioning that the Chinese Embassy in the U.S. officially protested after many Chinese international students entering through U.S. airports were subjected to unauthorized interrogations and harassment recently.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.