Scholar highlights need for China-US people-to-people exchanges

When asked about the historical memory of China and the US fighting side by side during World War II, Allison pointed to the shared sacrifice against fascism.

"Remember the Flying Tigers," he said. "Remember how much of the burden of the war China actually bore before the Americans entered the war." He reflected that neither country might have defeated the Japanese invasion alone and called that history a "good reminder" of the value of cooperation.

Before leaving the museum, Allison wrote in the guestbook: "An amazing and inspiring collection that reminds us of the many ways Chinese and Americans working together can make both nations greater and contribute to a more peaceful and prosperous world."

The exhibition systematically traces the history of friendly exchanges between the peoples of China and the US since America's founding. The 100 museum artifacts on display include gold-mining tools, railroad spikes, agricultural relics, documents and newspapers, dining utensils, anti-Japanese invasion war medals, and personal belongings of notable figures, offering a window into the centuries-old bonds between the two nations.