(The following is the keynote speech by Chinese ambassador to the United States Mr. Qin Gang at the welcome event hosted by the National Committee on US-China R

China’s new Ambassador Qin Gang has arrived in Washington, DC, tasked with chipping away at the frosty relationship between America and his home country.

Cui Tiankai, the departing Chinese Ambassador to the U.S., said the two countries are at "critical crossroads" in their ties.

Large gaps between ambassador appointments can cause significant challenges for the next diplomat. As the next U.S. ambassador sent to Beijing is determined, they should look to past successes like James Lilley to understand how to engage with China.

It wasn’t just the weather that was cold when senior US and Chinese officials convened recently in Anchorage, Alaska to try to reset their countries’ relations after four years of mounting tension. Sadly, the meeting was more reminiscent of the Cold War era than of a fresh start. That needs to change quickly – before it is too late.

The U.S. has placed the other members of the group in a disadvantageous position, expecting each of them to confront China. Instead, what they will discover is that they are missing out on the benefits China offers.

Chinese graduate student visas revoked, U.S. ambassador's request to publish on China's top newspaper rejected.

In 1962, American Ambassador John Kenneth Galbraith deftly diffused tensions between China and India to stop an escalating conflict. Sixty years later, diplomats would do well to heed his example in moderating Sino-Indian tensions.

A misguided analysis of history raises the potential for a repeat of a negative outcome. The world is not the same as it was, and the policy approach that was used against the USSR will not work for China.

As the economic outlook for the US, China and the world diminish, the novel coronavirus outbreak may be steadying. Sadly, much of the economic, xenophobic and virus damage stems from lagging cooperation.