The new Chinese Ambassador to the United States of America Xie Feng arrived in Washington, D.C. and spoke to Chinese and U.S. media on the evening of May 23. Here is the full text of Ambassador Xie's remarks:

I am greatly honored to be appointed by President Xi Jinping as the 12th Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the United States of America.

As a representative of the Chinese people, I have come here to safeguard the interests of China, and I take this as my sacred responsibility. As an envoy of the Chinese people, I have come here to enhance China-U.S. exchanges and cooperation, and I take this as my important mission. I started working on China-U.S. relations three decades ago. Thirty years later today, I still believe that a sound and stable China-U.S. relationship is in the interest of both countries. It is also a shared expectation of the international community and a major contribution to world peace and prosperity.

Obviously there are profound differences between the two countries, and the relationship is faced with serious difficulties and challenges. Then this relationship has gone through many twists and turns in the past half century, yet it has always been able to move ahead. The relationship is too important for us to let it fail. Neither side can change or replace the other. Working together, both will come out as winners; fighting each other, both will lose, and the world will be hurt as well. Whether China and the United States can manage the relationship properly is consequential to the future of our two countries and our planet. The world is watching us.

The China-U.S. relationship has once again come to a historical crossroads. My appointment at such a critical moment means to me not only honor, but also enormous responsibilities. Both China and the United States are great countries, and both Chinese and Americans are great peoples. We should keep pace with the trend of the times and reject Cold War mentality and zero-sum game, and open our heart and move forward in the same direction. We should take concrete actions to deliver on the common understandings between President Xi Jinping and President Joe Biden, and explore the right way to get along with each other in the new era. We should uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. We should make the two peoples feel assured and set the world at ease.

Long and arduous as the journey is, we will get to the destination as long as we take real steps. My colleagues and I will keep in mind the instructions of President Xi Jinping, carry out our duties and responsibilities and live up to our mission with diligence and fortitude.

I look forward to having extensive engagement and candid communication with people from all sectors in the United States. I look forward to your support, input and contribution.

Thank you.

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