LOS ANGELES, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- The Richard Nixon Foundation held on Thursday a reception to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations.
Addressing the reception, Zhang Ping, consul general of China in Los Angeles, said that though the formal China-U.S. diplomatic ties were established in 1979, the normalization process started as early as 1971, when Dr. Henry Kissenger made his secret visit to China that resulted in then President Richard Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972.
The establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations produced far-reaching impact on the evolution of international relations, Zhang said.
"It improved the external strategic environment for both countries and changed the political and economic landscape in the Asia-Pacific region and the world at large, contributing greatly to world peace and development," he said.
The progress that China-U.S. relations have achieved is enormous and unprecedented both in depth and in breadth, bringing tremendous benefits to the two peoples, he said.
Bill Baribault, president and CEO of Nixon Foundation, said since the forging of U.S.-China diplomatic relations, personnel exchanges between the two sides have been expanded, and increasing investment has poured into both countries.
The two countries should cherish and carry forward the friendly ties cultivated by leaders of the older generations of both countries, he said.
Nixon traveled to China on Feb. 21, 1972, starting a week-long visit widely described as one that "changed the world."
