Xi: Build more bridges, not barriers

President Xi Jinping underlined on Wednesday the significance of people-to-people exchanges in bolstering ties between China and the United States while addressing a welcome banquet jointly hosted by friendly communities in San Francisco.

"The foundation of China-US relations was laid by our peoples," Xi said, stressing that "the door of China-US relations was opened by our peoples", "the stories of China-US relations are written by our peoples" and "the future of China-US relations will be created by our peoples".

"We should build more bridges and pave more roads for people-to-people interactions. We must not erect barriers or create a chilling effect," he said.

Meanwhile, the Chinese president said he was convinced the door of China-US relations cannot be shut again once opened, and the cause of China-US friendship cannot be derailed halfway once started.

He said China is ready to invite 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years. He also said Beijing is ready to continue with cooperation with the US on panda protection, as pandas have long been envoys of friendship between the Chinese and American peoples.

He said that the two presidents have agreed to set up a working group on counter-narcotics to further the cooperation and help the US tackle drug abuse.

Xi made it clear that China has never bet against the US, and China has no intention to challenge the US or to unseat it. Instead, China will be glad to see a confident, open and ever-growing United States.

Likewise, the US should not bet against China or interfere in China's internal affairs. It should instead welcome a peaceful, stable and prosperous China, the president said.

US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo also spoke at the banquet, which brought together representatives from the business community in the US, including Apple CEO Tim Cook and Stephen Schwarzman, CEO and chairman of Blackstone, as well as some American citizens devoted to promoting bilateral friendship.

The citizens include Sarah Lande, an old friend of the Chinese president who had welcomed the president twice, and Harry Moyer, a 103-year-old Flying Tigers veteran.

The speech came eight years after Xi addressed welcoming attendees hosted by local governments and friendly organizations in Seattle during his first state visit to the country.

"Constructive communication leads to a more stable and productive US-China relationship and is in the best interest of both countries and the global community," said a joint statement from the host, the National Committee on US-China Relations and the US-China Business Council.

The Asia Society, Council on Foreign Relations, US Chamber of Commerce, and the China General Chamber of Commerce – USA also helped organize the event.