LOS ANGELES, Nov. 18 -- The Xinhua Gallery Photo Exhibition opened on Tuesday to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations.

The collection of photos, exhibited at South Coast Plaza, a luxury shopping destination in Southern California, showcases the great achievements realized over the past 35 years since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1979.

The 37 photos were taken by reporters and photographers of Xinhua News Agency during the past decades. This is the first time for some historical photos to be unveiled to the American public.

It is not the first time that South Coast Plaza has been honored and selected to celebrate the opening of the U.S. diplomatic door to China in 1972. In 2011, Chinese celebrities attended a rematch by the original Ping Pong players from both the U.S. and China in a day-long event at the plaza.

Known as "Where the World Comes to Shop," South Coast Plaza often hosts various cultural events, making itself an energetic and culturally dynamic place to visit.

"South Coast Plaza is committed to promoting mutual-understanding between Chinese and U.S. peoples through the regular presentation of bilateral trade initiatives, and Chinese cultural events," said Executive Director of Domestic and International Markets of South Coast Plaza Werner Escher.

"The Memorandum of Understanding between Xinhua and South Coast Plaza is an important agreement that promotes friendly relations between China and the U.S. with a special focus on Southern California," said Escher, who has been recognized by the U.S. government as a "citizen diplomat".

"Xinhua Gallery will present the customers of South Coast Plaza a more wonderful Chinese cultural 'banquet' and help promote the Plaza as a colorful high-end shopping center by holding more photo exhibitions," Guan Xinguo, Chief of Xinhua News Agency North America Regional Bureau, said at the opening ceremony.

Lingering among the photos, visitor Mark Rafter was attracted by these historic photos.

"I am specifically moved by many of those pictures. The handshakes of Mr. Nixon and Zhou Enlai to begin that friendship speaks many things, and would speaks volumes to Americans and to Chinese," Rafter told Xinhua.

Chinese Deputy Consul-General Sun Lushan, Director of U.S. Commercial Service Richard Swanson, President of American-Chinese CEO Society Robert Sun and General Manager of the Plaza David Grant attended the ceremony.