Chinese ambassador visits Houston

"We welcome that America invests in its strength and sharpens its competitive edge, and we wish you success," said Qin. "We hope that it will not take containing and suppressing other countries as its goal, because that will only lead itself astray."

The third question Qin asked was, "What is the right way for China and the United States to get along?"

"Simply put, it is mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation," he said.

"Integrated interests and mutual benefit represent the mainstream of China-US relations, and cooperation is the only right choice for both sides," said Qin. He said defining China-US relations as comprehensive and intense competition is "not what the people want" and "will only create confrontation and even conflict".

The ambassador pointed out that the Taiwan question is "the most important, sensitive and fundamental issue "in China-US relations, and "the one-China principle is the bedrock of our ties."

"The US should abide by its commitments made on the Taiwan question in the three Sino-US joint communique. It should not keep hollowing out the one-China principle, support and connive at 'Taiwan independence' separatist forces, or claim that Taiwan's status is undetermined, because these moves will only create tension across the Taiwan Strait and endanger regional peace and stability," Qin said.

He also underlined the important role of university exchanges and educational cooperation for good relations between the two nations.

"University exchanges and educational cooperation are not only of academic significance, but also an important link between the two peoples, especially young people, and play an important role in enhancing mutual understanding and cognition," Qin said during his visit to Rice University in Houston, which was founded in 1891 and currently has more than 1,000 Chinese students on campus.

David Leebron, president of Rice University, warmly welcomed Qin's visit and recalled his experience of many visits to China. Leebron visited China for the first time 42 years ago, and since then "I have forged an indissoluble bond with China," he said.

"University education has always played a special role in promoting people-to-people bonds between the two countries. This is also the best investment we can make in the future," said Leebron.

He said in the post-epidemic era, "we need to redouble our efforts to repair its impact on China-US people-to-people and cultural exchanges", restart exchanges and cooperation, and allow people from all walks of life in the US to learn about China, the Chinese people and Chinese culture through their visits to China.