It gives me great pleasure to attend the Opening Ceremony of Historical Archive Exhibition featuring the Flying Tigers and US-China Friendship hosted by American Flying Tigers Communication Association and US-China Peace and Friendship Promotion Committee.

First of all, on behalf of the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, I wish to congratulate the successful opening of the event and extend welcome to Mrs. Nell Calloway, the granddaughter of General Chennault, who traveled a long way to LA to attend this event. I also wish to express my appreciation to the host organizations for their hard work and dedication to promoting understanding and friendship between Chinese and American people, and to other Chinese community members and groups who have contributed to the success of this event.

Just now, I had a tour of the exhibition which enables me to revisit that part of the history of Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression in 1940s. At the time when China faced the most direct threats and the nation's existence was in great peril, the entire Chinese nation got united under the banner of National United Front and fought a bitter struggle against Japanese invaders. Many national heroes are still being remembered by the people today, including Madam Zhang Sujiu's father, the patriotic army leader General Zhang Zhizhong, and their heroic stories are told in classrooms and written in books. These stories demonstrate the heroic spirit and courage of Chinese nation to fight against all odds with no fear of making sacrifice. The victory of Chinese people's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression is the first complete victory won by China in its resistance against foreign aggressions in modern times. It puts an end to China's nearly century long semi colonial history of humiliation. It marks the historic turning point for the Chinese nation to rise from decline towards renewal.

The victory of Chinese People's War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression is not only a victory for Chinese people, but also a victory for all the anti-fascist allied countries including the US and all the peace loving peoples. During the war, the Chinese people received extensive support and assistance from the international community. We will never forget those foreign friends who provided protection and refuge to many Chinese civilians during the Nanjing Massacre and other atrocities. We will never forget those foreign medical workers who came a long way to China to save the lives of the wounded. We will never forget the sacrifices by the US heroes of Flying Tigers and Hump Operation. We will never forget the enormous support and contribution by our overseas compatriots.

In the history of China and US fighting together against Japanese aggression during the Second World War which was represented by the Flying Tigers and Hump Operation, there engraves the profound friendship between our two peoples that was forged in those hard times. Today as we revisit this part of history, commemorate the virtue of Flying Tigers, it becomes more important that we need to inherit this legacy and make sure that such friendship will be passed on from generation to generation.

China and the U.S. are two great nations. Our peoples share the traditional friendship and nice sentiments toward each other. Against the backdrop of the complex and changing international environment, a sound and stable China-US relationship is not only in the interests of both countries and peoples, but also conducive to the peace and stability of the world. As we look back the history of our bilateral relations, it is not easy to achieve what we have achieved and get to the place where we are today. We need to cherish it. We need to further deepen the understanding and friendship between our two peoples. The Chinese side will continue to make its effort to maintain and promote a stable and healthy development of China-US relations based on the principle of mutual respect and win win outcome. We look forward to working together with our friends from different walks of life, including the members of the Chinese community, to maintain and promote a better relationship and to write a new chapter of friendship between our two countries and two peoples.