People-to-people friendship between China, the U.S. is jointly forged by ordinary people from both countries: FM

(ECNS) -- People-to-people friendship between China and the United States is jointly forged by ordinary people from both countries, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference on Tuesday.

Mao made the remarks when asked about an American named David Victor Plymire and his connection to Huangyuan County, Qinghai Province, whose story gained a lot of attention.

Mao said that the 95-year-old Mr. Plymire lived in Huangyuan County, Qinghai Province for 17 years, and regards the place as his hometown.

According to the spokesperson, Mr. Plymire has helped donate medical equipment to Huangyuan County, provided financial aid for local education, and facilitated training opportunities in the U.S. for the county's English teachers. He once humbly said that all he has done is simply "fulfilling my duty to my own family." His story has touched many people.

"People-to-people friendship holds the key to state-to-state relations," Mao said. She noted that the exchanges between the Chinese and American people are like small streams that ultimately converge to form the vast river of China-U.S. friendship.

"China will continue to support people-to-people exchanges between the two countries and contribute to building a constructive relationship of strategic stability on the basis of respect, fairness and reciprocity", Mao said.

(By Gong Weiwei)