Zhang Qiyue, consul general of China in New York, delivers the keynote speech at the 25th anniversary luncheon of the Committee of 100's annual summit on April 10. AMY HE / CHINA DAILY

The Chinese consul general in New York congratulated the Committee of 100 (C-100) on its 25th anniversary, praising the organization for tirelessly promoting China-US relations.

"With your collective wealth of experience, knowledge, and resources, you have really pushed forward China-US relations to the benefit of our two peoples," Zhang Qiyue said in a keynote address on April 10 at the Grand Hyatt hotel, where the committee's 25th anniversary summit program was held.

"I learned a little bit of the history of the Committee of 100 and very much was touched by your courage and tenacity to foster greater mutual understanding and setting up a constructive dialogue between our two countries even in trying times," she said. "I think it's always easy when things are going smoothly, but in trying times and under difficult circumstances, to have you there continuously working with this relation, I think that's something that you have won great respect from our leaders, from our people in China."

The Committee of 100 (C-100) is an invitation-only membership organization with more than 150 Chinese Americans who are US citizens of Chinese heritage. The non-profit organization's goal is to serve as a bridge between the cultures and people of China and the US, providing a forum for issues that Americans of Chinese descent face in reaching their full potential as US citizens.

Zhang is four months into her new job as consul general in New York, and said that she has been able to reflect on the big difference in current US-China relations compared to when she first came to the country 40 years ago as a middle-school student.

"When we first arrived, I think you can imagine, this was 40 years ago without diplomatic relations, without any contact between the United States and China. We were probably seen as crash landing Martians," she said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is scheduled to visit to the US in September, and Zhang said that her office is busy preparing for it. "We are working very hard to prepare this visit and I'm sure that it will yield a lot of substantive results," Zhang said.

More than 400 invited guests, including China's Ambassador to the US Cui Tiankai and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, attended C-100's 25th Anniversary Celebration Gala Dinner on April 9.

Kissinger said that "with increased interaction, stepping on toes is inevitable, but cooperation between the United States and China is essential".

"Today we interact all over the world, but the effort and the cooperation between the US and China is essential for the peace of the world," he said. "Any great achievement needs an inspiration. Both of us can only benefit from partnership, and the presidents of both countries have dedicated themselves."

amyhe@chinadailyusa.com