(April 23, 2013)

Mr. Robert Zimmer, President of the University of Chicago,
The Honorable Richard M. Daley, former Mayor of Chicago,
Mr. David Greene, Executive Vice President of the University of Chicago,
Mr. Ni Pin, President of Wanxiang America Corporation,
Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen,

Every time visiting the prestigious University of Chicago, I am full of admiration for its glorious history, excellent faculty and students as well as its outstanding academic achievements. And I am also deeply appreciative of President Zimmer's efforts in promoting cooperation with China.

Today, I feel particularly honored with the gracious presence of the Honorable Richard Daley, former great Mayor of the great City of Chicago. Mayor Daley has made very important contribution to the friendship between Chicago and China.

On this joyful occasion, I, on behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago, wish to extend our warmest congratulations on the signing of the Ambassador Fellows Program between the University of Chicago and Wangxiang America Corporation, which is another encouraging step in the implementation of President Obama's 100,000 Strong Initiative.

Mutual understanding and friendship makes up the solid foundation for a good China-US relationship. It is especially important to have more exchanges between the young people of our two countries, because they are the future of our bilateral relations.

With the new Governments of our two countries coming into office recently, China-U.S. relationship is now at an important moment of development. Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Obama have reaffirmed the commitments of our two countries to advancing the cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. The two leaders also agreed to explore the establishment of the new-type major-country relationship between China and the United States.

We have many reasons to be optimistic about the future of China-US relations. We are optimistic, not only because of the commitments of leaders and the efforts of government officials, but also because there are many people like you who are contributing to our bilateral relations in various ways.

Here, I wish to thank everyone who has made today's signing possible. Especially, I want to express my appreciation to Wanxiang America Cooperation for setting up a very good example as a private company in promoting people-to-people exchanges between our two countries. I hope and believe that more Chinese enterprises will follow Wanxiang' footprint.

In closing, I wish the Ambassador Fellows Program a great success.

Thank you.