Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister, Yang Jiechi, called on Tuesday for broad and in-depth academic exchange between China and the U.S. to push forward the bilateral relations to a new century.
Yang made the remarks when he delivered a speech, titled "China-U.S. relations in new century," to the inauguration of the "Kissinger Institute on China and the United States" at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
Yang praised Dr. Henry Kissinger, former U.S. State Secretary, for devoting "his energy and wisdom to advancing China-U.S. relations."
The institute is to establish an advisory board of about 20 Chinese and U.S. dignitaries, which will be co-chaired by Kissinger and Xu Kuangdi, President of the China-U.S. People's Friendship Association and President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and conduct academic exchanges and cooperation with the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.
"I hope, and I believe, that the Kissinger Institute will actively engage in exchanges with Chinese scholars for broad and in-depth academic studies, and contribute its share to the constructive and cooperative China-US relations," Yang said.
The institute was established as China and the United States would celebrate the 30th anniversary of their diplomatic relations around the end of this year and the beginning of the next, he said.
"China-U.S. relationship has come a long way and achieved remarkable progress over the past 30 years," Yang said, "The growth of China-U.S. relations has not only brought huge benefits to the two countries and the two peoples, but also profoundly contributed to world peace and development."
The top Chinese diplomat noted that the current China-U.S. relations have some salient features, including more frequent high-level contacts and exchanges, more interconnected economic interests, expanding coordination and cooperation in international affairs, broadening channels for dialogue and communication, and deepening friendship between the two peoples.
