A China National Flag-raising ceremony at San Francisco City Hall on Tuesday, attended by elected officials, Chinese diplomats and community leaders, not only celebrated the 76th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, but also honored the deep, ongoing friendship described by both sides as "bridge-building" for mutual benefit.

Mayor Daniel Lurie, who took office on Jan 8, underscored the power of personal connections to foster trust across borders. Quoting from a heartfelt letter by a local high school student who participated in an exchange program to Shanghai, San Francisco's sister city, Lurie highlighted the theme of unity. The student wrote of their final night in Shanghai: "It's so special that across languages, cultures and borders, we look to the future knowing we have friends in Shanghai and around the world."

"This letter carries a message we can all agree on," Lurie said, emphasizing the potential for such exchanges to strengthen bilateral ties.

Meanwhile, Lurie extended a special invitation to Chinese companies, urging investment in San Francisco's booming real estate and technology sectors.

"This is the best time to invest in San Francisco," he told China Daily in an exclusive interview. "Whether it's AI, technology or real estate, there's no better place than San Francisco to put your money in. We welcome investors from China and around the world." 

San Francisco is experiencing a remarkable economic rebound, said the mayor.

"From January to June 2025, in-person spending surged by 10 percent, the largest increase among major US cities. Office and residential spaces are filling faster than they are emptying, with Union Square welcoming new stores. Public safety has also improved, with crime in the Financial District down 40 percent and citywide crime reduced by 30 percent."

He also acknowledged the great contributions Chinese people have made in the history of San Francisco, and noted that about 37 percent of the city's population is Asian American or Pacific Islander.

His administration is streamlining processes to make it easier to run businesses, from restaurants to tech startups, with a focus on supporting the Chinese-American community in sectors including culture, cuisine and innovation.

Chinese Consul General Zhang Jianmin echoed Lurie's sentiments, articulating a vision of bridge-building through development, openness and friendship. He stressed the importance of collaborative efforts in fostering mutual understanding and shared prosperity.

"Today's flag-raising ceremony speaks volumes of San Francisco's commitment to partnership with Chinese people. The mayor talks about importance of bridges —  bridges of connection, bridges of exchanges, bridges of communication. I'm also going to talk about bridges," said Zhang. "Development is China's top priority, through development we are able to improve people's lives and we are able to contribute to the global prosperity."

He assured the audience about China's steadfast commitment to advancing high-standard opening-up and extending market opportunities to the world. 

Meanwhile, "we are able, through the bridge of friendship, to appreciate each other more, not only what we have in common, but also the differences in our perspectives," Zhang said. "We are able to build a better shared future and address common challenges like climate change."

junechang@chinadailyusa.com