The Chinese Consulate General in San Francisco hosted a photo exhibition and reception on the autumn equinox to celebrate the harvest season and mark the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.

Around 300 guests from across California, including State Treasurer Fiona Ma and San Francisco Chief of Protocol Penny Coulter, attended Tuesday's event. They expressed their strong support for deepening ties between California and China, noting that consistent exchanges and cooperation bring mutual benefits.

Walking alongside guests at the exhibition, titled Seventy-Six Glorious Years, Together Towards a Shared Future, Consul General Zhang Jianmin smiled broadly as he stopped to share stories behind the photographs. The exhibition was arranged in four chapters: The Road to Rejuvenation: The Birth and Development of New China; The Great Journey: Chinese Modernization in the New Era; China-US Friendship: Carrying Forward Friendship and Pursuing Win-Win Cooperation; and Responsible Major Country: Global Governance and China's Proposals.

Zhang highlighted how living standards in China have improved dramatically over the past seven decades. Life expectancy has risen from 35 years in 1949 to 79 today, while access to education and healthcare has expanded. He cited high-speed rail, 5G networks and the Beidou navigation system as examples of China's rapid innovation.

"Among all these achievements, I would like to emphasize our success in poverty alleviation," Zhang said, pointing to images of rural Guizhou province. "China has lifted 800 million people out of poverty, accounting for more than 70 percent of global poverty reduction. By the end of 2020, we had eliminated absolute poverty, achieving the United Nations' 2030 poverty reduction goal a full decade ahead of schedule."

Zhang also underscored the history of China-US cooperation, recalling their joint fight in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the global fight against fascism.

"Over 80 years ago, in that epic war that determined the future of humanity, China tied down the bulk of Japanese forces, suffering more than 35 million casualties and making an indelible contribution to the Allied victory," Zhang said. He recalled the stories of the Flying Tigers, the Doolittle Raid rescue and Stilwell Road as enduring symbols of shared sacrifice.

Treasurer Fiona Ma spoke personally about that history, holding a medal honoring her father. Her grandfather and his brothers were military leaders during the 1940s. "My father was nine years old and remembered the Flying Tigers flying overhead," Ma said.

Ma has led numerous delegations to China over the years.

"I met Consul General Zhang 25 years ago," she said, noting that many Americans have witnessed China's progress firsthand through such exchanges.

Ma called on American students to visit China and see the country for themselves, while also welcoming Chinese students to study in the US.

"Hopefully, it will help overcome some of the politics of the adults and allow the younger generation to carry forward a relationship that benefits both sides."