On July 20, Charge d'affaires Xie Feng had a round-table discussion with the participants of the US-China Future Leaders Program (UCFLP), which is initiated by the University of Pennsylvania.

Charge d'affaires Xie gave an overview of China-US relations. He outlined the nature of "positive, cooperative and comprehensive" relations to explain the important agreement reached between the leaders of the two countries to work together to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship for the 21st century.

Xie pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-US relations have been moving forward with a sound momentum despite the twists and turns. The two sides have seen growing high-level exchanges. Bilateral cooperation in the economic, trade, military, cultural and other areas continues to grow both in depth and breadth and produced huge benefits for both sides. Since the beginning of the 21st century, against the backdrop of accelerating globalization and greater interdependence between China and the United States, the two countries have maintained effective coordination and cooperation on global and regional issues, including the world economic recovery, climate change, the Korean and Iranian nuclear issues and South Asia. China-US relationshiphasgone far beyond the bilateral scope and taken on greater strategic and global significance.

Xie underlined that history shows that although China and the United States differ in terms of historical tradition, social and political system as well as level of economic development, as long as both sides bear in mind the larger picture of China-US relations, treat each other with respect and as equal partners, respect and accommodate each other's core interests and major concerns, properly handle Taiwan, Tibet-related, trade and other sensitive issues, China-US relations will continue to develop in a sound and steady way.

Xie stressed that the progress in China-US relations in the past30 years has not come easily and should be cherished. Looking ahead, how far China-US relations will go depends on whether the two countries could keep abreast with the trend, perceive each other with a win-win mindset of the 21st century and draw a blueprint with astrategic and long-term perspective. It also depends on whether both sides could take concrete actions to implement the agreement between the leaders to build a positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship.

Xie said that in May, the China-US High-Level Consultation Mechanism on People-to-People Exchanges was officially launched in Beijing. It is another creative step in China-US relations. People-to-people exchanges help build the bond between countries and peoples and promote mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation. Youth exchanges are an important component. He encouragedthe participants of the program to actively support and engage in dialogue and cooperation between the two sides and strengthen the positive momentum in China-US relations.

Charge d'affairesXie also answered questions regarding China's opening up and investment environment, opportunities and challenges facing China-US relations, approaches to differences, military to military ties, educational exchanges and the role of media in China-US relations.

In their remarks, Paul Kelly, co-chair of the UCFLP Advisory Board, and Dr. Cheng Davis, Vice Dean of International Program of University of Pennsylvania, thanked the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Education and the Chinese Embassy in the United States for their active support for the program. They stated that the program is intended to facilitate educational and cultural links between China and the United States and strengthen the understanding of Chinese and American students about each other's country and China-US relations. They expressed the hope that the students could become the Ambassador for China-US people-to-people exchanges. The participants also shared their views on China-US relations and said they appreciate such engaging and rewarding discussion and are ready to play an active role in promoting understanding and friendship between the Chinese and American people.

Before the discussion, the students toured the Embassy and watched a short video on China. Representatives of the Department of States, UCFLP Advisory Board, University of Pennsylvania, students and young scholars from the greater Washington DC area as well as young diplomats from the Chinese Embassy and media representatives attended the event.

UCFLP was launched on June 7, 2010 in Beijing. Under the program, a group of students are selected from elite graduate institutions in China and the United States, including Harvard University, University of Pennsylvania, Johns Hopkins, Peking University, Renmin University, Fudan University and East China Normal University. The participants have two-month study tour in China and the United States, during which they engage in academic programs, workshops and field studies. The program is aimed at strengthening exchanges and understanding between the two sides on China-US relations, particularly the political, economic, environmental, legal, educational and media related issues. It is designed to promote friendship and exchanges between the Chinese and American youth. Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg and Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with the students during their visit to Washington DC in July.