US students from the International School of Beijing get ready to perform at a reception marking the 35th anniversary of Sino-US diplomatic relations, attended by Vice-President Li Yuanchao and former US president Jimmy Carter, in Beijing on Thursday. Photo by Xu Jingxing / China Daily

Kung pao turkey breast, a mixture of Chinese cooking and traditional US food, was the perfect dish to serve at a banquet on Thursday night to commemorate China-US diplomatic ties.

Turkey - a US favorite on Thanksgiving Day - replaced the normal chicken breast at a reception in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing as hundreds of Chinese and US guests celebrated the 35th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the countries.

Vice-President Li Yuanchao said those years had seen historic developments, and the relationship will continue to move forward as the two sides uphold the principles of no confrontation, no conflicts, win-win and mutual respect.

Jimmy Carter, the former US president who saw the establishment of diplomatic ties during his term, said he is glad to see the significant development of bilateral ties and is willing to continue contributing to it.

According to statistics from Chinese Customs, bilateral trade between China and the US reached $256.4 billion in the first half of the year, an increase of 5 percent compared with the same period last year. US investment in China, however, fell 9.3 percent in the first five months year-on-year.

Li Haidong, a researcher in US studies at China Foreign Affairs University, said the China-US relationship has reached another turning point as more efforts are needed from both sides to clarify the foundations of bilateral cooperation.

"It is their shared goal to keep the international system stable while making adjustments in accordance with the realities," Li said.

"Beijing has already done a good job on this point, but Washington hasn't and is responsible for stirring up disputes between China and neighboring countries."

The relationship has developed in a stable way over the decades as problems have been solved in a constructive manner, he added.

"It is reasonable to expect that the same will apply to the future development of bilateral ties."

Contact the writers at zhaoyinan@chinadaily.com.cn and mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 09/05/2014 page4)