LAS VEGAS, Nov. 29 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and U.S. local legislators vowed closer exchanges and cooperation on Thursday at the third China-U.S. Subnational Legislatures Cooperation Forum held in the U.S. city of Las Vegas.
Co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the State Legislative Leaders Foundation (SLLF) of the United States, the forum focused on how to enhance China-U.S. trade and educational cooperation through legislation.
Participants discussed topics such as intelligent transportation system and the development and legislation of the public health industry.
Addressing the forum, Li Xiaolin, president of CPAFFC, said though China-U.S. ties are confronted with temporary difficulties, important development opportunities remain.
As long as the two countries properly handle differences and focus on cooperation in the spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, they could achieve long-term stable growth of ties, she said.
China will continue to deepen its reform and opening-up, and facilitate cooperation between China and the United States as well as other countries, she said.
Li voiced hope for the forum to serve as an exchange platform and bring about new opportunities for China-U.S. cooperation.
Stephen Lakis, president of SLLF, said the SLLF expects to boost exchanges between the two countries' subnational legislative bodies and promote cooperation between local governments, thereby contributing to the development of U.S.-China relations.
Present at the forum were some 150 participants, including lawmakers from China's Hebei, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Henan and Hubei provinces, and 25 legislators from 16 U.S. states.
The China-U.S. Subnational Legislatures Exchange Mechanism was established in December 2015. The first two forums were held in Hawaii of the United States and Wuhan city of China in 2016 and 2017, respectively.
