China will continue to support and encourage sub-national and people-to-people exchanges to bring together all forces to develop sound China-U.S. relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday.
Noting that the fifth China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference was held in Suzhou City in east China's Jiangsu Province on November 3, Wang said sister provinces/states and sister cities are important carriers for deepening the friendship between the two peoples and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results.
For more than 40 years, sister provinces/states and sister cities between the two countries have maintained close cooperation and achieved fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, Wang said.
He said the cooperation between the sister cities was born with the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S., adding that the two countries have established 284 pairs since 1979, providing strong support for the development of bilateral relations.
Under the theme of "Build Green Cities for the People," participants from both sides had in-depth discussions and shared experiences, which fully demonstrates the enthusiasm and vitality of sub-national and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, he said.
The spokesperson added it is hoped China and the U.S. will meet each other halfway and create favorable conditions and a good atmosphere for sub-national and people-to-people exchanges.
(Cover: File photo of Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin. /Chinese Foreign Ministry)