Happy Chinese New Year 🏮

Ten thousand years are too long; seize the day, seize the hour.

Edited by ChinAffairs+.

As we enter 2026, China–US relations stand at a moment of renewed possibility. Over the first half of 2025, the two sides experienced both sharp frictions and cautious re-engagements — moments of tension, but also gestures of restraint and renewed dialogue.

Yet history reminds us that the true foundation of relations between nations lies not only in official exchanges, but in the friendship and mutual understanding of their peoples. Across mountains and oceans, and despite profound cultural differences, it is the exchange of hearts, the resonance of emotions, and the shared hopes of ordinary people that ultimately sustain and advance relations between countries.

As the Chinese New Year approaches, may friends from all corners of the world feel the warmth of this ancient land — a warmth shaped by openness, mutual respect, and a sincere desire for understanding. May the year ahead bring peace to our homes, success in our endeavors, and steady progress toward our shared aspirations. May the bonds between our peoples grow deeper, and may dialogue and cooperation continue to light the way forward.

At the same time, China and the United States are facing a rare opportunity to rebuild and strengthen the guardrails of their relationship. Although the overall tone at the senior level has recently become more restrained and constructive, this shift has yet to be fully institutionalized. The fragile balance that now exists could still be easily unsettled. If Beijing and Washington can seize this window to move toward a new round of normalization, it will become increasingly possible for both sides to safeguard their respective strategic interests.

As once written in 1963 and later quoted during a historic moment of engagement between our two countries:

“Ten thousand years are too long; seize the day, seize the hour.”

In the spirit of the New Year, may wisdom guide policy, may trust gradually replace suspicion, and may cooperation once again become the defining feature of China–US relations.

Thank you, as always, for your trust and continued support.

The ChinAffairsplus Team