On May 19, President Yang Wanming of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) met with a delegation led by Max Baucus, former U.S. Ambassador to China and former U.S. Senator, at the CPAFFC. CPAFFC Vice President Shen Xin also attended the meeting.
President Yang extended a warm welcome to Ambassador Baucus and the student delegation from the Max Baucus Institute in Montana, commending Ambassador Baucus for his long-standing efforts to promote the development of China-U.S. relations and facilitate youth exchanges between the two countries. He noted that the stable, sound, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples and reflects the broad expectations of the international community. China's policy toward the U.S. remains stable and consistent. China adheres to the three principles proposed by President Xi Jinping—mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation—in handling China-U.S. relations. China stands ready to work with the U.S. on the basis of equality, mutual respect, and reciprocity, to address each other's concerns through dialogue and consultation, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and move bilateral ties forward.
President Yang emphasized that in the current context, China and the U.S should further strengthen people-to-people ties and enhance communication and engagement among the younger generation, in a way to deepen mutual understanding, broaden consensus on cooperation, and contribute jointly to the long-term friendship between the two peoples. Such efforts would help bring greater stability and positive momentum to the future development of China-U.S. relations.
Ambassador Baucus emphasized the critical importance of U.S.-China relations, acknowledging that the bilateral relationship is currently facing significant challenges, hence the need to build more bridges to facilitate dialogue, exchange, and cooperation between the two countries. The Max Baucus Institute will actively participate in the initiative of "inviting 50,000 young Americans to China on exchange and study programs in the next five years" and organize more exchange visits for American students to China, to foster greater mutual understanding and lasting friendship among the younger generations of two countries.
The two sides also exchanged views on China-U.S. economic and trade relations.
