Chinese state councilor gives speech at Yale

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-04-16 20:42

NEW YORK - Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong gave a speech at the prestigious Yale University on Wednesday, calling for the strengthening of bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the field of humanities.

Liu said that to build positive and comprehensive Sino-US relations in the 21st century, the two countries need to deepen and expand exchanges and cooperation in humanities.

"Humanities exchange is a bridge of friendship, understanding and trust between nations and peoples, which comprises an important part of Sino-US relations along with economic and trade cooperation," she said.

Strengthening humanities exchanges, promoting consensus and understanding will help different cultures to learn from each other and develop, and earn benefits for the countries and peoples, Liu said.

She said China and the US should attach great importance to and enhance exchanges and cooperation in humanities from a strategic and long-term perspective, explore new ways, and enrich new content into the field.

Liu offered China's willingness to promote dialogue and exchanges with the US, enhance mutual trust and cooperation, and jointly push the bilateral relations to further development in the new era.

Liu arrived in New York on Saturday, at the start of her official visit to the United States.