U.S.-China Friendship Grove

On March 7, a crowd of 30 American students and 30 Chinese students gathered at the Chinese National Children’s Center (CNCC) to participate in a tree planting event in honor of the 30th Anniversary of U.S.-PRC Diplomatic Relations and Chinese Arbor Day. After a series of friendship-building and environmental awareness exercises, a "U.S.-China Friendship Grove" of 30 trees was planted on the CNCC campus, with each tree planted by one Chinese student and one American student. The event was a collaborative effort by the U.S. Embassy, CNCC, and the Jane Goodall/Roots and Shoots Program to help raise awareness of the environmental issues that our world is facing, and the steps that we can all take to help tackle these problems. Public Affairs Officer Don Q. Washington made remarks on behalf of the U.S. Embassy, and ESTH Officer Sherry Hong was in attendance to help explain the beneficial environmental impact of planting trees. Through this activity, a new generation of both Chinese and American students was introduced to the important responsibility our two countries share in leading efforts to protect the environment.

PAS, CNCC, and Roots and Shoots Collaborate on 30th Anniversary Tree Planting.	30 American and 30 Chinese students plant     ' U.S.- China  Friendship Grove’ together.

30th Anniversary Essay Contest Winners

The U.S. Embassy and Beijing Youth Daily are pleased to announce the winners of their joint 30th Anniversary Essay Contest. The essay contest inaugurated the celebration of the 30th anniversary of U.S.-China formalizing diplomatic relations by selecting the ten (10) best first-person, non-fiction essays on the impact of U.S.-Chinese relationships on the writer's life. The top six (6) essays were published on two full pages of the December 31, 2008 international section of the Beijing Youth Daily.

We received over 120 submissions in English and Chinese from around China, each one filled with moving and engaging personal anecdotes. Essays were judged on originality, style and interests as decided by U.S. Embassy diplomats in consultation with Beijing Youth Daily staff. The winning essays can be read by clicking HERE.