A commemorative event celebrating the "Nixon redwood", a symbol of China-United States friendship, was held at the Hangzhou Botanical Garden on Sept 26.

Centered around the coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) tree gifted by then-US president Richard Nixon during his historic 1972 visit to China, the ceremony offered a moment to reflect on shared history and renew commitments to peace and cooperation.

Nixon's 1972 trip marked the first visit to China by a sitting US president, ending more than two decades of estrangement between the two countries and paving the way for the normalization of bilateral relations.

That same year, several coast redwood saplings from the US were sent to China, with one planted at the Hangzhou Botanical Garden. The tree has since flourished under careful cultivation.

The towering coast redwood, known for its longevity of up to 2,000 years, is among the world's oldest and rarest species.