On Nov. 21 (Nov. 22, Beijing time), China’s Sichuan Province and U.S. state of Washington held an online celebration for the 40th Anniversary of the Establishment of Friendship Relations.

The executive vice governor of Sichuan, Li Yunze, said Sichuan and Washington state have had extensive cooperation in areas such as trade and investment, science and technology innovation, culture and education exchanges, and environment collaborations. Businesses from the state of Washington will always be welcomed in Sichuan.

Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco, Zhang Jianmin, said the good China-U.S. relationship is inseparable from local cooperation from both countries, and these collaborations benefit the development of Sichuan and Washington. He hoped that all parties will continue to strengthen friendly exchanges to develop healthy China-U.S. relations.

Steve Hobbs, the Washington Secretary of State, said that the state has solid friendship and cooperation with Sichuan. The state is looking forward to broader exchanges, especially in people-to-people interactions, cultural exchanges, and young students exchanges to promote understanding and friendship between China and the U.S.

The online event showed a short film on friendship at Sichuan Giant Panda Center, and the performance from the young students in China and the U.S., Sichuan and Washington, also released a joint statement on strengthening friendship and relations.

The two sides will promote future cooperation in clean energy and environmental protection. They will also deepen cultural exchanges in tourism, student exchange programs, and other areas to build a friendship between China and the U.S.

Signing a friendship agreement in 1982, the state of Washington was the first provincial-level international friendship city in Sichuan.