People-to-people exchanges help build foundation for U.S.-China ties, says Oregon state senator

SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 30 (Xinhua) -- People-to-people and subnational exchanges between the United States and China enhance mutual understanding and provide an important foundation for the constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability, an Oregon state senator has said.

The recent summit between the Chinese and U.S. presidents carries significance for exchanges and cooperation at the subnational level, James Manning Jr., president pro tempore of the Oregon State Senate, told Xinhua in a recent interview.

"The ties between ordinary Oregonians and Chinese citizens, forged through trade, education, and local partnerships, make our relationship resilient," he said.

Manning was part of a recent Oregon delegation visiting China. During his trip, he visited Beijing, Guangxi, Hubei and Fujian, which he said had further strengthened his belief in the importance of people-to-people connections between the two countries.

"They are the true foundation for mutual understanding and a stable future," said Manning.

Oregon and eastern China's Fujian Province established a sister-state relationship in 1984.

Communication between ordinary people and cooperation between U.S. states and Chinese provinces help build a lasting foundation for broader bilateral relations, said Manning, expressing hope that Oregon could further strengthen its ties with China and promote more exchanges.

During his trip, Manning was also impressed by China's development.

"China is a beautiful country. The people here are great," he said, noting that visits to technology centers and China's advances in various fields had left a strong impression on him.

Manning called for creating and extending dialogue between the two countries with an open mind, based on the recognition that "we are all a part of the human race" and that humanity should be a priority.

Such dialogue and communication are of particular relevance as the world faces a growing range of common challenges, he said.

"As we look around the globe, we find that there are a lot of challenges," he said. "These challenges can be overcome through people-to-people and subnation-to-subnation contact."