Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., Qin Gang, says China-U.S. relations are deeply misled due to lack of understanding as a result of widespread disinformation.

“Misunderstanding and misjudgments have led to the decline in China-U.S. mutual trust,” said Qin.

Qin says many people dealing with China in U.S. do not speak the language, and a few of them know very little about China. “They only rely on second hand information and even disinformation about China. Based on second hand information, they give their views and suggestions.”

Shedding a light on why learning Chinese is important for the China-U.S. relations, Qin said for China-U.S. relations to realize long term, stable and healthy development and for the U.S. to formulate better China policies, there need to be people who really understand China and who are proficient in the Chinese language.

At the Garland High School in Dallas, Texas, Qin was impressed with the intent and keenness of students and teachers to learn Chinese. He explained the need to bridge the cultural gap and deepen bilateral relations for the future generation.

“Just as how Chinese students are learning English, language creates communication, and the communication leads to understanding - a trust with mutual understanding and a trust there can be better bilateral relations “, said Qin.

On the cooperation between China-U.S., Qin said the two countries must stand together in the face of ongoing crisis such as climate change, the Ukraine conflict and COVID-19.

In less than 10 years, International Leader of Texas, which is a free public charter school, has devoted to 20 schools with more than 21,000 students all learning three languages - English, Spanish and the Chinese. “What an achievement,” added Qin.

To mark his arrival in Texas, the school honored Ambassador Qin with a cowboy hat by Kitty Vandries, the woman who also presented a cowboy hat to Mr. Deng Xiaoping 43 years ago. 

“It is a symbol of friendship between Chinese and American people,” Qin said.

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