From left: Charles Foster, Chase Untermeyer and Neil Bush discuss US-China relations in Houston at the 10th National Chinese Language Conference on April 7. MAY ZHOU / CHINA DAILY

When US President Donald Trump's granddaughter was singing the Chinese folk song Jasmine to President Xi Jinping and his wife in Florida, children from Houston area schools were reciting ancient Chinese poems and showcasing costumes of different Chinese ethnic groups at the 10th National Chinese Language Conference (NCLC).

On Friday, while Xi and Trump were talking about the future of China-US relations, Houston leaders gathered at NCLC to review how local figures have impacted the development of the bilateral relationship since former US president George H. W. Bush was an envoy to China in 1974.

Businessman Neil Bush recalled what China was like when he went there in 1975 as a 21-year-old student. "It's amazing for me to see China over the last 40 years evolving into the giant power it's becoming," Bush said.

He added that it's equally amazing to walk into a local hotel and see the hundreds of China-born young people who are now in the US participating in the education system, providing bridges for the powerful ties.

Chase Untermeyer, former US ambassador to Qatar who served as presidential personnel director in the Bush administration, recalled how the friendship between the senior Bush and Yang Jiechi, then director of China's Foreign Affairs Leading Group Office, began during Bush's trip to Tibet before returning to the US in 1975, how it developed, and how it positively impacted US-China relations later on, even in the most difficulty times.

Charles Foster recalled the historical moment he witnessed when Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping put on the giant cowboy hat in 1976 in a small town outside of Houston, and how personal friendship between Bush and Yang resulted in former Chinese president Jiang Zemin's visit to Houston in 2002.

While celebrating how far US-China relations have come, Untermeyer said that the challenge of the 21st century in terms of diplomacy is to maintain that relationship.

Untermeyer said that the conversation between Xi and Trump in Florida allows the leaders to get the measure of each other, to speak frankly, even bluntly: "Yes, words might get heated, just as people who are genuine friends and partners do. At that I am optimistic."

mayzhou@chinadailyusa.com