45th Anniversary of U.S. – China Diplomatic Relations Forum & Banquet in Los Angeles

LAPost/Whitter, Ca (July 29, 2024) – The “Exhibition and Forum Commemorating the 45th Anniversary of China-U.S. Diplomatic Relations” was held on the 28th in Whittier, the hometown of former U.S. President Nixon. The event was attended by China’s Consul General in Los Angeles, Shaochun Guo, and his wife, U.S. Congresswoman Judy Chu, Nell Chennault Calloway, granddaughter of General Claire Chennault of the Flying Tigers, and Dr. Nick Zeller, a representative of the Carter Center. They each delivered keynote speeches at the forum.

From Left: Judy Chu, Nell Chennault Calloway, Shaochun Guo, Nick Zeller (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

The commemorative event was jointly organized by eight organizations, including the American Flying Tigers Institute, the Chennault Foundation, the American Volunteer Group Flying Tigers Association, and the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum. According to Dr. Pedro Chan, head of the American Flying Tigers Institute and chief planner of the event, preparations for the event took nearly six months, especially coordinating schedules and considering the health conditions of some elderly guests. This is also the first time that Flying Tigers-related institutions from across the United States have co-organized a commemorative event.

China’s Consul General in Los Angeles, Shaochun Guo (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

In his speech, China’s Consul General in Los Angeles, Shaochun Guo, stated, “In the 1970s, the older generation of Chinese and American leaders, with extraordinary political courage and strategic vision, made a historic decision to reopen the door to China-U.S. exchanges. Over the past 45 years, the broadest consensus has been that we need to maintain good China-U.S. relations. Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation are the true ways to get along. The hope for China-U.S. relations lies in the common happiness of the people of both countries. The foundation of China-U.S. relations is the people, the basis is society, the future lies in the youth, and the vitality is in local exchanges.”

Nell Chennault Calloway (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

Nell Chennault Calloway, the granddaughter of General Claire Chennault and director of the Chennault Aviation and Military Museum, traveled from Louisiana to attend the commemorative event. She stated that her grandfather once wrote in his memoirs, “The emblem of the Flying Tigers will always fly high when needed and will forever be remembered on both sides of the Pacific as a symbol of the efforts of two great nations striving for a common goal in both war and peace.” Nell called for the writing of the next chapter in China-U.S. relations—a chapter of friendship, trust, and mutual prosperity.

Dr. Nick Zeller (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

During President Carter’s tenure, China and the United States formally established diplomatic relations. Dr. Nick Zeller, a representative from the Carter Center in Atlanta, who studied Chinese at Tsinghua University, stated in his speech: “We celebrate 45 years of peace between China and the U.S. I want to reflect on the pricelessness of what we are celebrating. The importance of achieving peace transcends all human differences. When commemorating the 40th anniversary of China-U.S. diplomatic relations, President Carter described these decades as ‘proof that nations with different histories, cultures, and political systems can work together for the greater good.’ By 2019, President Carter still asserted that cooperation is essential when facing the most serious challenges.”

Mel McMullen (Right 2) and his wife (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

During the commemorative event, a birthday celebration was held for 99-year-old Flying Tigers veteran Mel McMullen. Mel McMullen and his wife visited China in 2023 and were received by Chinese national leaders. They reside in Whittier and are among the very few surviving members of the Flying Tigers. Throughout the years, they have been actively involved in various activities supporting and promoting friendly exchanges between China and the United States.

Dr.  Pedro Chan (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

Nearly 20 large display panels showcased precious photos and detailed descriptions of key events such as the “Ping Pong Diplomacy” of 1971 and the reciprocal visits of Chinese and American presidents starting with President Nixon’s visit to China. The exhibition also featured classic mainstream newspapers and magazines reporting on Nixon’s visit to China and the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the United States, collected by renowned Chinese-American collector Dr. Pedro Chan. Additionally, the exhibition included valuable artifacts and photos of the Flying Tigers and the Chinese military and civilian efforts to rescue American pilots during the “Doolittle Raid” in World War II.

(Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

(Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

Also in attendance at the commemorative event were California Assemblyman Mike Fong, Whittier Mayor Joe Vinatieri, Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Ed Chau; descendants of General Doolittle from Texas, and descendants of Flying Tigers veterans from Kansas, Nevada, and various regions of California. Approximately 500 people from various sectors of Southern California attended the photo exhibition and forum. (By: Richard Ren/LAPost)