On May 16, 2012, Chinese Consul General Xu Erwen visited Austin, the capital of the State of Texas and delivered a speech on China-U.S. relations at a reception hosted by Mr. Geoffrey Connor, former Secretary of the State of Texas.

In her speech, Consul General Xu introduced the recent development of China-US relations and the cooperation between China and Texas. She pointed out that this year is the 40th anniversary of President Nixon’s visit to China. Ever since then, China-US relations have forged ahead despite twists and turns, and have become one of the most important, most dynamic and most promising bilateral relationships in today's world. She said that the bilateral relations now stand at a new starting point to build a cooperative partnership based on mutual respect and mutual benefit. She believed that the healthy and stable growth of China-US relations is important for the well-being of our two peoples and for peace, stability and prosperity of the world.

Consul General Xu pointed out that, history has proven that China’s development is an opportunity to the US and the world. In the years ahead, the two countries face greater opportunities in the all-round cooperation, which are created by the economic restructuring of both countries, the rapid growth of Chinese investment in the US, the new growth points and areas of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, the in-depth progress of sub-national cooperation as well as educational and cultural exchanges between China and the US. The two sides should work together hand in hand to seize the opportunities and make new progress in bilateral relationship.

Consul General Xu stressed that sub-national cooperation is an important part of China-US cooperative partnership. The cooperation between Texas and China achieved a lot in recent years. China has already become Texas’s 3rd largest export market and 2nd largest source of import. Texas claims the top state destination for Chinese investment in the US. The growing exchanges in culture and education also helped a lot in nourishing the friendly relations.

In the socializing part of the reception, Consul General Xu and other diplomats from the Consulate General exchanged views with guests attending the reception on a variety of topics of their common interest, particularly future cooperation between China and Texas.