China, US legislators talk bilateral friendship, trust at online forum

Chinese and US legislators exchanged views on promoting bilateral friendship and mutual trust and expressed hopes for a stable and healthy China-US relationship to jointly cope with global challenges in a forum held via video link on Tuesday. 

The fifth China-US Subnational Legislatures Cooperation Forum brought together legislators from seven Chinese provincial areas, including Beijing, East China's Jiangsu and South China's Guangdong, as well as seven US states, including Alabama, California, Iowa and Hawaii. 

The forum was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation of the United States. 

Lin Songtian, the association's president, said at the forum that facts have proved that win-win cooperation and joint development between China and the US is the common aspiration of people from both nations. 

Bilateral trade has grown by 8.8 percent year-on-year in 2020 despite the downturn in global trade, he noted. 

Stephen Lakis, president of the legislative foundation, said an open attitude toward maintaining exchanges and cooperation for China and the US is of vital importance. 

In spite of conflicts and competition between the two nations, it is important to step up dialogue, enhance mutual trust and attain common progress through constructive competition in the face of common challenges, such as the pandemic, poverty, infrastructure development and climate change, he said. 

Cui Tiankai, Chinese ambassador to the US, said in a video speech that China and the US should meet each other half way and follow the spirit of non-conflict, non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation to focus on cooperation, manage differences and promote a healthy and stable growth of bilateral relations.