In his speech, Xie also referenced the First World Humanoid Robot Games held in Beijing last month, where teams from 16 countries, including the US and China, competed side by side, and the human-machine dance "Spirit of the Terracotta Warriors" won gold in the group dance event, showcasing the infinite possibilities when technology meets culture.

"I encourage you to interact with and learn from each other today, and contribute wisdom to how the cultures of China and the US can draw on one another and flourish side by side," Xie said.

As this year marks the 80th Anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, Xie invoked history, recalling that 80 years ago, "China and the US fought against fascist aggression and defended peace shoulder to shoulder."

Today, he stressed, "conflict and confrontation produce no winner; dialogue and cooperation are what people truly want." He called on both nations to "uphold mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation" to ensure stability and prosperity.

Washington DC Mayor Muriel Bowser praised the festival as "a vibrant celebration of Chinese culture and a testament to the rich diversity that makes Washington, DC, one of the greatest cities in the world."

"The traditional Chinese music, dance, art exhibitions and culinary delights of the Washington Chinese cultural festival foster cultural understanding and promote the invaluable exchange of ideas between diverse communities," the mayor said in a proclamation.

William Zarit, senior counselor at the Cohen Group and former US Embassy minister in Beijing, also underscored the role of cultural exchanges in stabilizing bilateral relations.

"People-to-people relations between the US and China play a paramount role for both countries in today's topsy-turvy geopolitical biosphere," said Zarit, who first visited China in 1972.

"Strong and healthy bilateral people-to-people relations, whether it's through education, tourism or business, can be the basis for a strong and healthy US-China relationship," he said.