【News Express】Pang Keyang, Xiao Bo, reported by Yorba Linda
To commemorate the 50th anniversary of President Nixon's icebreaking trip to China, nearly 400 Southern California political, business and academic circles attended a commemorative dinner held on the evening of February 24 at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library and Museum in Yorba Linda, Orange County. Chinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang and his wife attended the meeting accompanied by Zhang Ping, Chinese Consul General in Los Angeles, which was also his first visit to the West Coast of the United States.
Nixon Library by ShawBo
The dinner was hosted by Jim Byron, Chairman of the Nixon Foundation, Dr. Kissinger. Henry Kissinger) spoke via video. Former U.S. Secretary of Labor and Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, former U.S. Ambassador to China Stapleton Roy, Orange County Inspector Don Wagner, and former President Richard Nixon's grandson Christopher Nixon Cox attended the event.
Nixon Foundation President Byron
In his opening remarks, Byron said that this week 50 years ago, President Nixon said his icebreaker was a "week that changed the world." President Nixon's trip to China became at the heart of his visionary foreign policy, the first rift in the Cold War, rebalancing the world's power and making it a better place. Half a century later, we are gathered again in a week that could change the world. We and peace-loving people around the world hope that the progress made in peacebuilding will not be threatened by what is happening in Europe.
As President Nixon said in Shanghai 50 years ago, the future of the world is in the hands of our two peoples, Byron said. We are committed to building a new world, a world of peace, a world of justice, a world in which all countries are independent. Let the great Chinese people and the great American people cooperate for world peace, justice, and common progress.
Dr. Kissinger's video message.
In his keynote address, Kissinger reviewed the hardships of the ice-breaking journey 50 years ago, noting that before President Nixon, there had been no normalized communication between the United States and China. President Nixon worked hard to break the deadlock in relations between the two countries after taking office, but it was very difficult because China has no diplomats abroad. So they tried different channels and eventually went to China through Pakistan.
Photo by Qin Gang, Chinese Ambassador to the United States, and Xiao Bo
Ambassador Qin Gang said in his speech that he thanked the Nixon Foundation for hosting this grand event, as well as those sponsors, organizers and individuals who contributed to tonight's event. It is a great pleasure to be here in President Nixon's hometown and library to commemorate his historic visit to China and the subsequent publication of the Shanghai Communiqué. I would like to express my highest respect to President Nixon and to the leaders of the older generation of China and the United States who have made extraordinary contributions to the establishment and development of Sino-US relations.
February 21-28, 1972, was the week that illuminated history and the week that changed the world. With the idea of peace for all mankind, President Nixon crossed the vast ocean, shook hands with Premier Zhou Enlai at the Beijing capital airport, and embarked on an ice-breaking journey. The Shanghai Communiqué ushered in the normalization of Sino-US relations. It is also a week to remember, as it represents a relaxation of East-West relations, the strengthening of peace forces and a change in the international strategic landscape.
All things are difficult before they become easy. Ambassador Qin Gang recalled the difficult moments before the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, as well as the coincidence of ping-pong diplomacy in which the small ball turned the big ball. He summed up the precious legacy brought about by the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, the first of which is extraordinary strategic vision. The second is great political courage. The third is extraordinary diplomatic wisdom. When Chairman Mao met with President Nixon, he said that we should talk about philosophical issues. What he meant was that China and the United States should look at their relationship strategically and in the long term. The two leaders grasped the ever-changing international landscape, put the interests of their respective countries and peoples above ideological differences, ended more than two decades of confrontation and hostility, and opened the door to Sino-US relations.
He stressed that during that special period, the Taiwan issue was the core of bilateral relations, and reaching a one-China consensus was the basis for the normalization of Sino-US relations.
He said that 50 years is only a moment in the long river of world history, and thirty years ago the Cold War ended, and globalization changed the world economic landscape. The Internet and other new technologies keep us in one global village. Sino-US relations have also undergone earth-shaking changes since the establishment of diplomatic relations, and China and the United States have developed into a close community in which economic interests are inseparable. But the Cold War mentality is still doing its toll. Now Sino-US relations have reached another historical juncture. We are entering a new round of mutual exploration, understanding and adaptation, and striving to find a way to get along in the new era. President Xi Jinping pointed out that can Sino-US relations be handled well? It's about the future of the world. This is a century of questions, and both countries must give a good answer.
Zhao Xiaolan delivered a speech by Xiao Bo
In his speech, Zhao Xiaolan introduced that President Nixon's ice-breaking trip is of great significance, reuniting broken and divided families. In 1972, Zhao's father was inspired by an ice-breaking journey to follow Kissinger's visit to China from New York to France to Pakistan, and finally to China to pick up her grandmother and reunite in the United States.
Ms. Zhao said she remembers seeing the whole of China blue and green on her first visit to China in 1979. But when she visited China again in 2008, she was struck by the tremendous achievements of China and its people in a short period of time.
Zhao pointed out that the greater achievements also include the contribution of Asian-Pacific immigrants to the United States, especially Chinese Americans. Asian Pacific Americans are a source of economic, political, social, and creative excellence in the United States, but the United States has only taken advantage of some of its strengths. The U.S.-China relationship has its ups and downs, and the Asia-Pacific Americans caught between them are being harassed by growing xenophobia and anti-Asian hatred, so we need the rise of Asia-Pacific Organizations and elite Asian-Americans.
Finally, Zhao Xiaolan stressed that US-China relations have a far-reaching impact on world peace and prosperity. Fifty years ago, President Nixon had the foresight and courage to conceive and implement the opening up to China. Today, we can continue to remember him by promoting U.S.-China ties and cultural heritage, which requires courage, conviction, and compassion. Despite the difficulties and uncertainties, we can improve the world when we work together!
Former U.S. Ambassador to China Rui Xiaojian delivered a speech. Photo by Xiao Bo
In his speech, Rui pointed out that President Nixon's ice-breaking journey shows the quality of leaders who can think beyond conventional thinking, seize opportunities, and act decisively to pursue strategic goals, which is very rare in world history and is crucial for diplomacy.
Speech by Rick Niu of the Asian American Foundation.
Speaking on behalf of Maurice "Hank" Greenberg, vice chairman of the National Council on U.S.-China Relations, Rick Niu of the Asian American Foundation noted that President Nixon was one of the most effective and visionary leaders of the Cold War. For President Nixon, the country always came first. If he remains in power, the world will be a better place. Thank you for your efforts to promote the importance of the U.S.-China relationship by the Nixon Foundation and the Nixon Presidential Library, and for highlighting Nixon's extraordinary accomplishments. ”
On the day of the dinner, the Orange County Academy of Music and Dance brought a wonderful performance. The Chinese restaurant On the Beach prepared a dinner to recreate the state banquet of Nixon's visit to China. In addition to Moutai on the evening of the dinner, president Nixon and Premier Zhou Enlai toasted the sparkling wine Blanc de Blancs produced by the Schramsberg winery in Napa.
On the same day, Byron also thanked Mr. and Mrs. Xie Ming and Mr. and Mrs. Zhang Xianghua for their generous donations to the Nixon Library and the event.