Chapter 035 Huaxia Longteng

At the invitation of US President Cleveland, Xiao Chen, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of the People's Republic of China, visited the United States on May 11, local time, with his wife Ye Y-Lingnv. On the night of his arrival in Washington, Chairman Xiao Chen and his wife Ye Y-Ling attended a private dinner hosted by US President Cleveland at the White House. In a cordial and friendly atmosphere, the two heads of state exchanged views on international and regional issues concerning Sino-US relations and common relations. ”

The next day, US President Cleveland held the highest formal welcoming ceremony in the history of the United States for Chairman Xiao Chen on the South Lawn of the White House.

As early as last year, in November 2023, when Cleveland met with Xiao Chen at the Six-Party Talks in Seoul, South Korea, he personally positioned the visit as "the top priority for U.S.-China relations and U.S. foreign affairs." ”

It has been learned that this time the US side took the initiative to position the visit as a "state visit" of the highest standard. At that time, the US side will make a full set of formal foreign etiquette and ceremonies, including a grand welcome ceremony, gun salute, talks, meetings, and state dinners. This is Cleveland's second state visit after the United Kingdom since taking office.

U.S. Secretary of State Delat Drake told Chinese Foreign Minister Liu Chongxi, who visited China in early April, that the U.S. is "diligently" making relevant preparations. At the White House, First Lady Mitchell is presiding over preparations for the "state banquet", I don't know if it is intentional, Cleveland Chinese "NV military division" Hu Xinlin was entrusted with the important task of "First Lady's Chief of Staff" on April 5, and the first major event she has to prepare for is Xiao Chen's visit to the United States. After taking office, Hu Xinlin said that she had begun to work with other White House staff to develop a guest list for the state banquet to receive Xiao Chen.

According to people familiar with the matter, the White House has been very meticulous in the protocol preparations for Xiao Chen's visit, including rain, fog, snow and other bad weather plans. On the morning of April 13, the White House also held a rehearsal of a grand welcome ceremony on the South Lawn, which is also very rare for the White House who knows the process well.

At another stop that Xiao Chen is about to visit, Chicago, Cleveland's hometown, preparations are also in full swing. Chicago Mayor Dai Gar was so excited about his visit that he used six "big" words in a row to describe it. "It's a big deal," he said. Big, big, big, big, big, big thing! ”

In fact, the "red carpet" was rolled out as early as September last year, and the frequent exchange of visits by senior officials of the two countries was called a "paving" trip by the media. White House National Economic Council Director Sanchez, National Security Advisor Donnick, Deputy Secretary of State John Scolas, US Special Representative for North Korea Troth, US Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Rochel, US Secretary of Defense Ramos, and Assistant Secretary of State Droni visited China.

In December, Ye Chenggang, chief of the general staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, led a delegation to attend the Sino-US defense consultations, and Vice Premier Zheng Zhipeng also led a 100-member delegation to the United States to participate in the Sino-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade.

If the flight distance from Washington to Beijing is 7,000 kilometers, the delegations of the two countries are counted as 200 high-ranking officials, and the total distance of all officials' "paving journey" can travel about three and a half times from the earth to the moon.

Chairman of the U.S.-China Business Council, John Brown. Nesribi said the chain of meetings was probably more than any five-month period in the history of modern Sino-American relations.

At the same time, two heavyweights who have contributed to Sino-US relations have also published articles in the mainstream media, and the 100-year-old Kissinger wrote an article in the Washington Post calling on China and the United States to avoid a Cold War, saying that the "Shaw Meeting" will be an extremely important summit. Brzezinski, a 95-year-old former US national security adviser, published an article in the New York Times, comparing Xiao Chen's visit to the United States with his "historical visit to the United States during Zheng Nan's tour" and stressing that due to the reversal of China's and the United States' economic strength, the practical significance of Xiao Chen's visit to the United States is even higher than that of Zheng Nan's visit to the United States.

The long wind and the waves surged. The vast Pacific Ocean, the sea and the sky are thousands of miles.

From May 11 to 25, 2011, at the invitation of U.S. President Cleveland, Chinese President Xiao Chen flew across the ocean by special plane for a state visit to the United States.

It was a visit that attracted worldwide attention.

At the end of a quarter of the mile of the 21 st century, the head of state of the world's largest economic aggregate this year paid a return visit to the country with the largest economic aggregate in the world last year. In this foreign event, which attracted worldwide attention, the heads of state of China and the United States worked together to formulate a plan for the development of China-US relations and jointly promote the development of China-US relations.

Although the relations between the two countries have gone through many twists and turns, they have continued to move forward. This fully shows that the friendship between the Chinese and American peoples is a requirement of history and the needs of the times. Xiao Chen's visit to the United States has conveyed a strong signal of China's pursuit of peace, development, cooperation, and progress on both sides of the ocean, around the world, and in the hearts of the people.

Looking back on the past and looking forward to the future, the world today is in a period of great development, adjustment and change, and the next quarter of mankind in the 21st century is facing unprecedented opportunities and challenges. China and the United States are shouldering more and more common responsibilities in safeguarding world peace and promoting common development. It is believed and expected that Xiao Chen's visit will open a new chapter in the partnership between China and the United States, promote mutual trust and cooperation between the two countries, and work with other countries to seize development opportunities, respond to global challenges, and create a better future for human society.

Andrews Air Force Base in the suburbs of Washington, D.C., the air is clear after the rain. At about 16 o'clock on the 18th, a special plane of Chinese civil aviation sprayed with a fresh five-star red flag logo landed smoothly on the runway.

The cabin opened, and Chinese President Xiao Chen smiled at the gangway and waved to the welcoming crowd. Facing the flickering flashing lights, Xiao Chen walked down the gangway, shook hands warmly with US Vice President Crowcell, who came to greet him, and hugged the American teenager who presented flowers. At your feet, there is a long red carpet; In the air, the melody of the national anthems of China and the United States echoes......

This is the first time that Xiao Chen has set foot on American soil since he became the president of China in 2023.

This visit coincides with a critical moment in the development of Sino-US relations. More than 50 years ago, a small table tennis ball broke through the ice, and the gorgeous jiā opened again. Over the past 50 years and more, historical changes have taken place in Sino-US relations and in China's relations with the rest of the world. After years of hard work, the common interests of China and the United States have expanded, the common responsibilities shouldered by the two countries have increased, and the prospects for cooperation between the two sides have become broader. From bilateral to multilateral, from politics and security to the economy and environment, from regional hotspots to transnational challenges, today's China-US relations have richer strategic connotations and more important global implications. Today, the U.S.-China relationship has become one of the most important bilateral relationships for both sides.

This visit comes at an important moment of profound and complex changes in the world pattern. After the shock and progress in the first decade of the new century, the repetition and hesitation in the second decade, and especially after the violent impact of the international financial crisis, China's economy has flourished, and the international community is further adjusting its adaptation and clarifying its direction. The sustained and healthy development of Sino-US relations, which some consider to be "an important factor in defining the direction of global development in the 21st century," is also considered to be a key to the evolution of the international community at present and in the future.

"As the world is still emerging from the effects of the recession and still faces great threats in the field of environment and security, the significance of President Huaxia's visit to the United States cannot be overemphasized." This is the analysis of Western public opinion.

This visit coincides with the first year of China's entry into the "14th Five-Year Plan" period. On the eve of the visit, Xiao Chen accepted a joint written interview with the Wall Street Journal and the Washington Post, and profoundly expounded the strategic direction of China's development: China will take the development of people's livelihood as the theme, accelerate the transformation of economic development mode as the main line, implement a proactive fiscal policy and a prudent monetary policy, accelerate the adjustment of economic structure, vigorously strengthen independent innovation, earnestly grasp energy conservation and emission reduction, continue to deepen reform and opening up, strive to protect and improve people's livelihood, and consolidate and expand the results of coping with the impact of the international financial crisis. Maintain steady and rapid economic development and promote social harmony and stability.

Xiao Chen stressed that we are also soberly aware that despite our remarkable development achievements, Huaxia is still the world's largest developing Huaxia family, and it is necessary to continue to make arduous efforts to achieve the national development goals. Development is the key to solving all problems in China, and at the same time, development must be scientific development, pay more attention to people-oriented, pay more attention to comprehensive, coordinated and sustainable development, pay more attention to overall planning, pay more attention to ensuring and improving people's livelihood, and promote social fairness and justice.

This shows that China has entered a critical period of deepening reform and opening up and accelerating the transformation of economic development mode, and in the face of new goals and new tasks, China must adhere to the overall domestic and international situation, pay more attention to seizing and making good use of important strategic opportunities, and strive for a good external environment for its own development.

Xiao Chen's written speech at Andrews Airport clarified the purpose of his visit: "The purpose of my visit to the United States is to enhance mutual trust, strengthen friendship, deepen cooperation, and promote the continued development of positive, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relations in the 21 st century. I look forward to having an in-depth exchange of views with President Cleveland on China-US relations and major international and regional issues of common concern, and to having extensive contacts with friends from all walks of life in the United States to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples. ”

Leaving the airport, the convoy headed straight for downtown Washington. The Potomac River, which surrounds the city, is a turquoise water with a flock of birds. The flags of the United States and China are displayed in the wind on Pennsylvania Avenue in the center of the city. Many overseas Chinese and Chinese holding the national flags of China and the United States, braved the cold and waited early in front of the Marriott Hotel where Xiao Chen was staying.

For this visit, China and the United States have been preparing for two years......

Since Cleveland assumed the presidency of the United States, Sino-US relations have continued to develop along the track of positive cooperation and comprehensive development jointly determined by the two heads of state. In less than two years, the two heads of state have met seven times and exchanged visits. The two sides successfully held two rounds of strategic and economic dialogues and established a high-level consultation mechanism for people-to-people and cultural flows. The two countries have jointly responded to the international financial crisis and promoted the reform of the international financial system, which has had a positive impact on the international community. Bilateral cooperation between China and the United States in the fields of economy and trade, energy, environment, counterterrorism, non-proliferation, and law enforcement has been deepened, and the people of the two countries have become more active, maintaining effective communication and coordination on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, regional hotspots such as the Iranian nuclear issue, and global issues such as climate change.

Similarly, it goes without saying that while maintaining the general direction of stable development, China and the United States also have some long-term contradictions and differences, and bilateral relations have been hit by storms and hardships from time to time, and have experienced difficulties and twists and turns. For a period of time, there have been repeated cases of dust blowing sand and dust on issues related to China's core interests, such as treasure islands and Tibet-related issues, as well as human rights, which have affected the healthy development of Sino-US relations.

Adhering to the correct direction of Sino-US relations and firmly grasping the goal of working together to build positive, cooperative, and comprehensive Sino-US relations in the 21st century is a major choice that has a bearing on the development of the two countries and the world at large.

This time, even the most reserved US media could not help but sigh that the White House had attached "unprecedented importance" to the preparations for welcoming the visit of the Chinese head of state. On the eve of the visit, the media reported that the White House had held a rehearsal to prepare for the welcoming ceremony, which showed the seriousness of the ceremony.

As the time for the visit approaches, the enthusiasm of all circles in the United States continues to rise. U.S. Secretary of State Drak Drake. Palermo, the Secretary of the Treasury and the Secretary of Commerce delivered speeches one after another, expressing the importance of Xiao Chen's visit to the United States and emphasizing that US-China cooperation will bring great benefits to both sides.

The level of attention in the American media is not far behind. In the past few days, he has interviewed and commented on high-ranking officials and scholars, and has been interviewing and commenting on Sino-US relations.

On a night in Washington, the wind is warm. On the night Xiao Chen arrived in Washington, Cleveland held a private dinner in the Old Family Banquet Hall of the White House, entertaining Chinese dignitaries from afar in a rare "home-style" way.

The old family banquet hall is in full swing and warm. High ceilings, chandeliers glow softly, and a long dining table is filled with flowers.

The White House made preparations for this private dinner. The charcoal fire in the fireplace crackled, and Cleveland laughed as a welcome to Chairman Shaw.

On both sides of the table, the guests and hosts went deep into the jiā stream, met frankly, exchanged views on the development of Sino-US relations and a series of major issues of common concern, and reached important consensus.

The history of China and the United States proves that the history of the leaders of the two countries has led and promoted the development of bilateral relations time and again. This was the case from President Nixon's visit to China in 1972 to Comrade Zheng Nanxun's visit to the United States in 1979, to Jiang Enguo's visit to the United States in 1997 and 2002, Gu Banglan's visit to the United States in 2006 and 2010, and Xue Yuanlan's visit to the United States in 2016.

Over the past few decades, the leaders of the two countries have grown from a rare meeting in a few years to seeing each other many times a year, exchanging frequent telephone calls and letters, and the leaders of China and the United States have communicated with each other more frequently and have become closer and closer.

Some media commented: "In today's era, although information technology is highly developed, it is also an era in which direct communication between people and countries needs to be strengthened. The 'face-to-face' meeting between the top leaders of the two countries has played an irreplaceable role in promoting the development of bilateral relations. ”

May 12 is an important day in the history of Sino-US relations.

According to custom, the White House released Xiao Chen's itinerary in Washington in advance. From morning to evening that day, the main activities of the White House were related to Xiao Chen's visit. Cleveland participates in these events almost all of them. Together with the private banquet the night before, the two heads of state had 12 hours of talks, meetings and joint attendance. Some American media figuratively said: "This day has become the 'China Day' of the White House." ”

Early in the morning, the South Lawn of the White House began to be lively: the uniformed honor guard arrived at the designated place in advance and stood one after another, and the ordinary American people and overseas Chinese in the viewing area also waited early. The flags of China and the United States flutter in the morning breeze.

At 9 o'clock, the welcoming ceremony held by Cleveland for Xiao Chen's visit to the United States officially began. After several days of rainy weather, the winter sun broke through the clouds. When Xiao Chen arrived from the southwest of the White House by car, Cleveland and his wife, who were waiting here, stepped forward and exchanged greetings with Xiao Chen and his wife, Ye Y-Ling. Subsequently, the leaders of the two countries climbed the review stand together, and the honor guard saluted with guns. The band played the national anthems of China and the United States, and a 21-gun salute was fired. Xiao Chen, accompanied by Cleveland, inspected the guard of honor.

When passing by the viewing area, Xiao Chen took the initiative to shake hands cordially with American primary and secondary school students and representatives of overseas Chinese and Chinese who were holding the national flags of China and the United States, and had a warm conversation. People rushed to stretch out their hands and greet Xiao Chen. Later, the two heads of state delivered separate speeches. In his speech, Xiao Chen said that we should take a long-term view, seek common ground while reserving differences, and jointly promote the long-term, healthy and stable development of China-US relations. Cleveland said that through Xiao Chen's visit, we can lay the foundation for the next 30 years.

At 9:50 a.m., the two heads of state walked into the Oval Office in the West Wing of the White House and began small-scale talks. Subsequently, the two leaders came to the White House cabinet conference room for a large-scale meeting.

In the cabinet room, the heads of state of China and the United States frankly exchanged opinions. Bilateral issues ranging from strengthening mutually beneficial economic and trade cooperation to opening up new areas of cooperation, from regional situations to international issues such as global security, and from addressing climate change to improving international economic governance mechanisms...... Xiao Chen had frank and pragmatic in-depth communication with Cleveland, and comprehensively planned the key directions for the development of Sino-US relations and the key areas for deepening cooperation in the coming period.

At about 12 o'clock, Xiao Chen and Cleveland met with entrepreneurs from the two countries at the Eisenhower Administrative Building. This is the first time since Huamei Jiā was established that an event was held at the White House with the participation of the heads of state and entrepreneurs of the two countries. Microsoft, Goldman Sachs, Motorola, Westinghouse, Cybes, General Electric, Coca-Cola, DuPont, Dow Chemical, Boeing, Intel and other well-known American companies and leaders of well-known Chinese enterprises such as CIC, Tianxin Tianchen, Far East, Lenovo, Haier, Hualian, Wanxiang and Taihu all participated.

Xiao Chen told Chinese and American entrepreneurs that the economic, trade, and investment cooperation between China and the United States has brought tangible benefits to the people of the two countries and important business opportunities to the enterprises of the two countries. The prospects for economic, trade, and investment cooperation between China and the United States are very broad. It is hoped that enterprises of the two countries will seize the opportunity and take positive actions.

At the same time, it is hoped that the US side will take positive measures as soon as possible in relaxing restrictions on the export of high-tech products to China, giving a level playing field for Chinese enterprises investing in the United States, and recognizing China's status as a complete market economy.

At 13:30, Xiao Chen came to the East Room of the White House and met with reporters with Cleveland. Journalists from all walks of life took advantage of the favorable position early and set up the "long guns and short guns" of photography and videography to spread this important moment to the world.

"The cooperation between China and the United States is of great significance to both countries and the world. The two sides should adhere to the right direction of bilateral relations, respect each other's sovereignty, territorial integrity and development rights and interests, promote the long-term, healthy and stable development of China-US relations, and make greater contributions to world peace and development," President Xiao Chen's clear and clear voice echoed in the East Room.

"Both China and the United States agree to further advance the active, cooperative and comprehensive China-US relationship, and are committed to working together to build a mutually respectful, mutually beneficial and win-win partnership for the better benefit of the two peoples and other peoples." After introducing the results of the talks, Xiao Chen also answered questions from Chinese and American reporters on the spot.

Not far from the White House, along a wide avenue, is the 140,000-square-meter Harry Duru Building, where the offices of the US State Department and the Secretary of State are located. At 2:45 p.m., Xiao Chen went to Franklin Hall on the eighth floor of the building to attend a welcome luncheon hosted by Vice President Clausailr and Secretary of State Draco.

The Franklin Hall, with its white-toned tone, was resplendent with beautiful music and many guests from all walks of life in the United States.

In his speech at the banquet, Xiao Chen said: Just now, I had a very successful meeting with President Cleveland. The two sides unanimously held that China and the United States are countries with considerable influence in the world and share extensive common strategic interests. The two sides should strengthen dialogue, expand consensus, enhance mutual trust and deepen cooperation.

On the 12th, after in-depth consultations, China and the United States issued the fourth joint statement in Washington since the establishment of the United States. The statement pointed out that China and the United States are committed to working together to build a mutually respectful and mutually beneficial cooperative partnership to advance the common interests of the two countries and respond to the opportunities and challenges of the 21st century.

"Mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win" has become the key word for writing a new chapter in China-US relations, which is extremely rich. On this basis, China and the United States will carry out global cooperation more effectively, and cooperate in a more flexible and open way of thinking for win-win cooperation, so as to benefit the two peoples and the peoples of all countries.

"We need to look at the U.S.-China relationship with a new light. On the one hand, the interests of the two countries are increasingly closely linked; On the other hand, the two countries face many common challenges. The relationship between China and the United States is not a zero-sum game, and only by respecting each other, increasing mutual trust, and strengthening cooperation can we achieve a win-win situation. Lu Yundi, Chinese ambassador to the United States, interpreted the new consensus reached on the positioning of bilateral relations between China and the United States during this visit.

When night falls, in the State Banquet Hall of the White House, the music is melodious and the candles are flickering. As an important part of the highest standard of etiquette, the state banquet held at the White House was specially opened in four halls. Among the guests, there were senior dignitaries who have contributed to the development of Sino-US relations, business celebrities who have worked hard for economic and trade exchanges between the two countries, and scholars who have made outstanding achievements in the fields of science, technology, and culture, witnessing the historical moment in the development of Sino-US relations.

Cleveland specially introduced Lilia, an NV child who was learning Chinese, to Xiao Chen. In the morning, Lilia and her friends attended the welcome ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House. When Lilia greeted Xiao Chen with a Chinese, Xiao Chen was very happy and encouraged Lilia to learn Chinese well.

That night, Xiao Chen and Cleveland raised their glasses together and joined more than 200 people from all walks of life attending the state banquet to wish the long-term, healthy and stable development of Sino-US relations.

Even if the text is over today, there is actually the last chapter left, but it can only be said to be a postscript, writing something that I hesitated to write in the text. Therefore, "Huan Hai Longteng" will be the real finale today.

said that the ending has been said for so long, and when it comes to the real arrival, it is really a little reluctant. But there is no feast in the world, and the banquet of "Dragon Teng of the Sea" is really coming to an end. At this table of banquets, there may be a few dishes that are not doing well, but there are also a few dishes that are not good enough, and Wufeng hopes that his next table of dishes can be improved, so that everyone can like them more.

I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all readers for their continuous support, encouragement and encouragement over the past year, without you, there would be no perfect ending of the 4 million word ending of "Huan Hai Longteng".

At this moment, the gratitude is beyond words. Only bow again and again! ~！