San Francisco marks National Day with Chinese flag  

美国旧金山市政府升五星红旗 庆中国国庆64周年

San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee (first on the right) and Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Yuan Nansheng (central) raise the flag from the balcony of City Hall together on September 25, 2013. [Photo: China News Service/ Chen Gang]

San Francisco (CNS) -- A Chinese national flag began flying above the main entrance to San Francisco's City Hall in Northern California on Wednesday, to mark the 64th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, which falls on Oct. 1.

San Francisco Mayor Edwin M. Lee and Chinese Consul General in San Francisco Yuan Nansheng raised the flag from the balcony of City Hall together.

Lee announced Wednesday as the Day of Friendship and Heritage between Chinese and American people.

Yuan said San Francisco plays an important role in the relationship between China and the US, and he hoped cooperation between San Francisco and China will move to a higher level.

Lee will visit Beijing and sister-city Shanghai in October, after a trip to China in April.

More than 50 guests attended Wednesday's flag-raising ceremony.