Qufu, September 3rd—Lu Kang, Vice-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), attended here today the China-U.S. youth exchange event themed “Seeking Wisdom in Confucius’ Hometown to Write a New Chapter of Friendship,” co-hosted by the China NGO Network for International Exchanges and the Chinese Association for International Understanding. He also held discussions and exchanges with more than 100 young students and faculty members from ten U.S. universities, including Harvard University, the University of Chicago and Columbia University. 

Lu briefed the participants on the main content of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, the important consensus reached at the meeting between the heads of state of China and the U.S., the contemporary relevance of China’s fine traditional culture, and the vision of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics in the new era. He elaborated on the contemporary significance of the Confucian concept of “harmony and unity” and stressed that China has always upheld the principles of seeking harmony while reserving differences and seeking common ground while putting aside differences. China will take the implementation of the four major global initiatives as an important pathway toward building a community with a shared future for humanity. China and the U.S. should remain committed to communication and dialogue, expand practical cooperation, and enhance mutual understanding, so as to promote the sound, stable and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations. People-to-people and cultural exchanges constitute an important foundation of bilateral relations. Lu expressed the hope that through this visit, the young students from the U.S. would gain a true, multidimensional and comprehensive understanding of China, help enhance mutual understanding and mutual learning between the two peoples, and actively contribute to the building of a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability.  

The U.S. students said that China’s development achievements have attracted worldwide attention. During their visit to Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, they visited cultural heritage sites and historic landmarks and witnessed the new look of the city. They gained a firsthand appreciation of the profound Chinese civilization and the vitality of China’s development, and gained a fresh understanding of China. They also realized the importance of strengthening communication and understanding between young people in China and the U.S. They expressed the willingness to contribute their youthful energy to promoting the stable development of U.S.-China relations. 

Lu answered more than ten questions from the students on China-U.S. relations, multilateral cooperation, regional hotspot issues, green development, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and global governance of artificial intelligence, among other topics. The discussions were substantive and interactive, with a friendly and lively atmosphere.