"Cheers! Cheers for the 65th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China! Cheers for the friendship between China and the US," said Yuan Nansheng, Chinese general consul in San Francisco.

Chinese Consulate in San Francisco hosted a National Day Reception at the Hilton Hotel in San Francisco on Wednesday.

For the past 65 years, the Chinese people have explored their own path towards development and have achieved great things, said Yuan, who warmly welcomed guests from the political and business communities and others to the celebration.

Political leaders from both China and California highly praised the efforts by the two sides to promote bilateral relations and collaborations.

The year 2014 also marks the 35 anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US, said Yuan.

"Recent years have witnessed frequent high-level visits, enhanced pragmatic cooperation in all areas and close coordination in international affairs between China and the US," said Yuan.

After Yuan took office last year, California Governor Jerry Brown visited China, which made California a pioneer in building relationships with China.

Last Sunday, California and China's Guangdong province signed a Newly-Twinned Friendship Province/State agreement between Guangdong and California, said Ed Lee, mayor of San Francisco, who attended another signing ceremony on Sept 22 for Newly-Twinned "Sister Hospitals" between Guangdong's Nanfang Hospital and California Pacific Medical Center.

As of today, there are 202 pairs of sister cities and 41 pairs of sister province-state relations between our two countries, said Yuan.

Today is Chinese and American Friendship and Heritage Day, said Lee.

As the gateway for Chinese people and enterprises coming to the US, San Francisco will further its bilateral cooperation with China in the years ahead, said Lee.

This May, United Airlines launched new nonstop service linking San Francisco and Chengdu, said Yuan, adding that China Southern Airlines would also launch new routes between San Francisco and three other Chinese cities - Changsha, Wuhan and Guangzhou.

"We still have lots of work to do to further advance the development and collaboration," said Yuan.

"Currently, there are lots of Chinese people living in California, especially in the San Francisco Bay Area," said California State Assemblyman Phil Ting. "I am so glad to join the reception tonight to celebrate the 65 anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China."

"The celebration today is a big success,"said Peter Soo, vice-president of the Northern California Taiwan Compatriots Association.

zilian@chinadailyusa.com

(China Daily USA 09/26/2014 page2)