Chinese artist dedicates sculpture to U.S.

A Chinese artist dedicated a handcrafted sculpture to Illinois State government on Wednesday, in a bid to pay tribute to the Chinese railroad builders of the U.S. rail system.

The sculpture, named as "Pioneer of Railroad Construction" by its creator Yuan Xikun, depicts three generations of Chinese railroad builders.

The state museum of Illinois will collect the sculpture as a permanent collection.

The sculpture serves as a symbol of increasingly interconnected relationship between China and the United States, Illinois State Governor Pat Quinn said.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the signing of the Pacific Railway Act, authorizing the building of the first transcontinental railroad across the United States. Over 10,000 Chinese men contributed to the construction.