China’s newly arrived top diplomat in New York expressed hope at a welcome reception on Tuesday for a fresh start in ties between the two countries and his belief in “beginner’s luck” as he takes up his new post.

“I believe in ‘beginner’s luck,” said Chen Li, whose previous posts include Chinese Ambassador in Norway. His latest as consul general in New York is Chen’s first U.S. assignment. “I hope that a new starting point marks a good beginning for China-U.S. relations,” he said.

“This will require the joint efforts of people from both nations. Even more so, I hope that the relationship can enjoy a ‘luck streak,’ bringing lasting benefits not only to our peoples but also to the entire world,” Chen said. About 400 guests attended the welcome reception at the consulate office in Manhattan.

The newcomer arrives ahead of the Jan. 20 start of an incoming Trump administration committed to raising tariffs on Chinese imports and pursuing tougher overall policies toward the country. The U.S. and China, a major American trading partner and the world’s No. 2 economy, have also tried to steer through geopolitical differences of views that include the South China Sea and Taiwan, as well as trade and economic policy. Incoming Trump Cabinet officials regarded as “China hawks” include Secretary of State nominee Marco Rubio.

Chen was named the country’s new consul general in New York City in October, succeeding Huang Ping who held the post for six years. About half of 4.7 million Chinese Americans live in the states of New York and California as of 2022, according to a recent report by Pew Research, citing U.S. Census Bureau data.

Owing to large U.S.-China business ties, the New York area has over the years attracted prominent Chinese companies including the Bank of China, Fosun International and Vanke. As of Jan. 8, 2024, there were 265 Chinese companies listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and NYSE American with a total market capitalization of $848 billion, according to the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. That group includes Internet leaders such as Pinduoduo, Alibaba and Baidu, as well as online travel services provider Trip.com and EV maker Li Auto. In October, Chinese autonomous vehicle technology company WeRide went public on the Nasdaq.

Chen previously worked in five European countries. “Christmas trees in the neighborhoods (in New York) now remind me of Rovaniemi, Finland, or the hometown of Santa Claus. I wonder if I might come across Santa on Fifth Avenue even with his reindeer,” he joked. The diplomat lauded the city’s “hardworking” culture and added other recent experiences in the U.S. that remind him of China’s own vibrancy.

The Chinese Consulate in New York’s work district covers New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Ohio, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island.

Chen holds a master’s degree in economics and is a member of the Communist Party of China, according to his official biography. It didn’t say where he was educated.

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