The US delegation visits Nanputuo Temple in Xiamen. [Photo/fao.xm.gov.cn]

Members of the National Committee on United States-China Relations visited Xiamen in East China's Fujian province from Dec 7 to 11 at the invitation of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.

The delegation includes 14 congressional aides from 12 US states from both the Democratic and Republican parties.

Liu Shaoqing, deputy director of the standing committee of the CPC Xiamen Municipal Party Committee, met with the delegation on Dec 9.

Liu briefed them on the city's latest economic and social developments, saying that Xiamen is not only a "garden city" suitable for living and starting businesses, but also an important city for foreign exchange in China.

She expressed hope that the delegation's visit to Xiamen would further promote exchange between the two places in various fields and expected that trade frictions between China and the US would be settled quickly.

Delegation members enjoyed their visit to Xiamen and said they hoped to increase cooperation with the city.

During their visit, the US delegation visited Xiamen University, the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, and the Xiamen Municipal Bureau of Ocean Development to discuss the South China Sea dispute, the management of religious affairs, and the marine economy.

They also visited local scenic spots, including Nanputuo Temple, Gulangyu Island, and the Artistic Western Zone.

Many of them praised Xiamen's favorable business environment and pleasant natural environment.

The National Committee on United States-China Relations, founded in 1966, is a non-profit, educational organization that encourages understanding and cooperation between the US and China and consists of around 700 members from all walks of life in the US.