Special Report: China-US S&E Dialogue |
by Xinhua Writers Wang Wei, Liu Hong
WASHINGTON, July 27 (Xinhua) -- The first round of China-U.S. Strategic and Economic Dialogue was warmed up as leaders from both countries employed each other's language and culture in their greetings and speeches on Monday.
Two representatives from each government jointly presided over the opening session at the Ronald Reagan Building in Washington, D.C., where Chinese President Hu Jintao (through his representative)and U.S. President Barack Obama also delivered their messages to the historic event, respectively.
"Good morning and Zhongxin Huanying (Chinese pinyin for 'sincerely welcome you')," said U.S. State Secretary Hillary Clinton in her opening remarks as a way to show her hospitality.
Clinton will co-chair the "strategic track" of the dialogue with Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, to address the economic recovery, climate change and clean energy as well as security challenges facing two countries.
She wrapped up her speech with a Chinese proverb "when people are of one mind and heart, they can move Mountain Tai," which is a sacred mountain in northern China near Confucius' home.
U.S. Secretary of Treasury Timothy Geithner, who will co-host the "Economic Track" of the dialogue with Chinese Vice Premier Wang Qishan, noted the need for the United States and China to act together amid the global economic crisis by citing in Chinese language a Chinese idiom "Taking the same boat through rain and wind."
The idiom was also printed in Chinese characters in his prepared statement.
In his address to the opening session, President Obama relaxed audience by quoting Yao Ming, a top Chinese basketball player who currently also stars American NBA.