Photo: Agencies

Washington (People's Daily) - Ambassador Qin Gang, the new ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the People's Republic of China to the US, arrived in Washington on Wednesday to assume office.

He believes "the door of China-US relations, which is already open, cannot be closed."

"This is the trend of the world, the call of the times, and the will of the people," said Qin in his remarks to Chinese and US media upon arrival in the United States.

Fifty years ago, Dr. Henry Kissinger made a secret visit to China and opened the door to the normalization of China-US relations, said Qin. "It was during the Cold War; at that time there was virtually no contact between the two countries. Dr. Kissinger had to travel covertly to China via a third country."

"Fifty years later today, as the 11th Chinese Ambassador to the United States, I can travel most openly and fly directly to this country. How the world has changed with the passage of time," Qin said.

Over the past half a century, the China-US relationship has kept moving forward despite twists and turns, Qin said.

"It has not only had a profound impact on the two countries, but has also changed the course of history and the world significantly. The world today is going through major changes unseen in a century," he said.

He said, “The world today is going through major changes unseen in a century. As two big countries different in history, culture, social system and development stage, China and the United States are entering a new round of mutual exploration, understanding and adaptation, trying to find a way to get along with each other in this new era.

Qin said that the China-US relationship has once again come to a new “critical juncture,” facing not only many difficulties and challenges but also great opportunities and potential.

Where this important relationship will be headed is vital for the well-being of the Chinese and American peoples and for the future of the world. The two peoples and the international community hope for a “sound, stable and growing relationship” between the two countries, Qin said.

In the speech, Qin said that he will seek to build bridges of communication and cooperation with all sectors of the United States. He said he looks forward to working closely with all sectors to safeguard the foundation of China-US relations and uphold the shared interests of the two peoples.

Qin said he will endeavor to bring China-US relations back on track.

Qin said mutual respect, equality, win-win cooperation and peaceful coexistence are the way for the two countries to get along with each other, and he wants to turn this path from a possibility into a reality.

Upon arrival, Ambassador Qin was greeted by Deputy Chief of Mission of the Chinese Embassy Li Kexin, Consul General in New York Huang Ping and other Chinese diplomats in the US.

Ambassador Qin is the eleventh Chinese ambassador to the US. Prior to his ambassadorship, he was vice foreign minister of China. His predecessor, Ambassador Cui Tiankai, completed his tenure and returned to China on June 23.