Beijing, December 20th—Lu Kang, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), attended here today on the morning the 2024 Kuliang Forum and delivered a keynote speech. 

Lu shared his experiences of listening to General Secretary Xi Jinping telling stories about Kuliang and a recent visit to Kuliang. Lu said the stories and history of Kuliang have become a symbol of friendship between the Chinese and American people, which is growing and thriving like the millennium-old Cryptomeria trees in Kuliang. He shared his visit to the Weihsien West Civilians Concentration Camp Site Museum, and the touching stories about the local villagers helping the Americans who were then detained in the camp, including Arthur William Hummel, who later served as the second US Ambassador to China. Lu stressed that this history was a vivid example of the profound friendship between the Chinese and American people who shared weal and woe and helped each other. 

Lu said, General Secretary Xi Jinping emphasized that for the China-US relationship, the hope lies in the peoples of the two countries, the foundation is laid by the two peoples, the future depends on the youth, and the vitality comes from exchanges at subnational levels. The China-US relations are currently at a new crossroads, but China's hope of continuing the friendship between the peoples of the two countries has never changed and will not change, no matter how the global landscape evolves. China stands ready to work with the US to continue the stories of friendship between the two peoples, people-to-people exchanges, youth exchanges and mutually beneficiary cooperation. The IDCPC is willing to work with all sectors of the US to develop more platforms for communication and dialogue, organize diverse youth exchange activities, and promote the bonds and mutual learning between the two peoples, thus contributing to the stable, sound and sustainable development of China-US relationship. 

Themed "Bridging Cultural Differences, Inheriting Friendship and Trust", the 2024 Kuliang Forum was co-hosted by People's Daily Digital Communication Co. and Global Times. The event was attended by Yu Shaoliang, President of People's Daily, Guo Ningning, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Fuzhou Municipal Committee, Xu Lijing, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of People's Daily, Shen Xin, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Yu Tao, Deputy Director-General of the China Foreign Languages Publishing Administration, Roberta Lipson, Chairperson of the American Chamber of Commerce in China, and other political, academic, business and youth representatives from China and the US.