Remarks by Chinese Consul General in New York Chen Li at the Second 'Youth Dialogue for the Future' Joint Concert

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

It's a real pleasure to join a musical gathering that belongs to the young people. On behalf of the Chinese Consulate, I'd like to warmly welcome all of you, and extend my special thanks to the team of Carnegie hall for making this event happen.

Before I came to New York, my idea of the city was probably like many people's: Wall Street, the Statue of Liberty, and other famous landmarks. But after living here, I realized that, the real charm of this city is its art. It can surprise you anywhere, at any moment.

I've been moved by world-class performances at Carnegie Hall, and just as deeply by an unknown soul singer performing in the Times Square subway station. 

From West Side Story to Empire State of Mind, from Frank Sinatra to Taylor Swift, New York may be the most sung-about city in the world. So if we are talking about music bringing people together, we are certainly in the right place.

Music has a special power: it recognizes differences, yet seeks harmony. In an orchestra, there are strings and winds. In a chorus, there are high voices and low voices. Each part is different, but when they listen and work together, they create something beautiful.

That is the power of music. It does not ask everyone to make the same sound. Nor does it mean the loudest voice wins. It means different voices, guided by a shared rhythm, can bring out the best in one another. That is the spirit needed in China-US relations.

History offers many reminders. Ping-Pong Diplomacy showed how a small ball could help move a big relationship. The Philadelphia Orchestra's historic visit to China proved that music could build a bridge across the Pacific. The Kuliang families, the Flying Tigers, and the stories of friendship with the people of Iowa have all carried warmth and trust across generations. Today, more young people are visiting each other's countries and writing new chapters of their own. 

China-U.S. relations have had their ups and downs. But people-to-people ties have never stopped. They have weathered the storms, and they continue to move forward.

They keep moving because they are rooted in a simple truth: exchange is not about erasing differences. It's about understanding each other through those differences, by meeting more often, talking more openly, and working together more closely.

Last month, the two Presidents met in Beijing and agreed on a new vision of building a constructive China-U.S. relationship of strategic stability. This marks a new historic moment for the two countries. To turn this new vision into reality, we need planning from the top, but we also need warm connections among our peoples.

The hope of the China-U.S. relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in our societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at sub-national levels.

A Pew research poll released this April showed Americans' views of China becoming more positive, with favorable views rising notably since 2023. More Americans are looking at China in a more balanced way, bringing more goodwill and positive energy into the relationship.

Today, people-to-people friendship between China and the US is taking on diverse new forms. Soon, the young musicians of the NYO Jazz will travel to China, and a group of top young Chinese artists will also come to New York.

From July 22 to 26, Lincoln Center's Summer for the City will present Chinese Arts Week, featuring Ying'ge dance, street dance, rock, electronic music, and other traditional and modern Chinese art forms. From July to September, audiences will also experience the concert of the original Chinese RPG "Black Myth: Wukong", and the classic dance dramas "The Journey of a Legendary Landscape Painting" and "A Dream of Red Mansions", a rich showcase of China's visual, musical, and creative energy.

All these exchanges are a vivid picture of how Chinese and American youth are getting to know one another. Each may seem small, but together they can build the momentum for a more constructive and stable China-U.S. relationship.

I believe today's event is just the beginning. May the young artists here stay in touch, keep creating together, and inspire one another. And may more schools, institutions, and youth organizations join in, turning one concert into many projects, and one round of applause into lasting friendship.

Finally, I wish the event every success, and everyone has a wonderful time today. Thank you.