Xi replies to letter from Iowa's Muscatine High School students
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, also the Chinese Lantern Festival of the Year of the Dragon, replied to a letter from students of the U.S. Iowa state's Muscatine High School who visited China in late January and sent them New Year cards in return.
In the letter, Xi extended holiday wishes to the teachers and students of the school, and encouraged more American youths to come to China for exchanges and study.
Xi noted that the students' letter featured beautifully written Chinese characters as well as vividly hand-painted Chinese dragon, also known as the "loong," the Great Wall and pandas.
The Chinese president said he felt happy for the students as they visited several Chinese cities, where they saw pandas, tasted Chinese delicacies, experienced Chinese culture, and had a lot of fun.
Learning that the U.S. students have made many Chinese friends during the trip, and invited those friends to visit their hometown in the United States, Xi said he found their friendship very touching.
Citing a Chinese saying that reads "seeing is believing," Xi said the warm and friendly American people he met during his first visit to the United States in 1985 have given him an indelible impression.
Likewise, it is believed that through this exchange visit, the students can gain a more intuitive and in-depth understanding of China and the Chinese people, Xi said.
The Chinese president encouraged the Muscatine High School students to revisit China and encouraged more American youths to come to China for exchanges and study, where they can get first-hand experience of a real China in a multi-dimensional and comprehensive manner, foster genuine friendship with Chinese youths and learn from each other so that they can jointly contribute to a stronger friendship between the people of the two countries.
Noting that the Chinese Lantern Festival has long been an important moment for the Chinese people to express their hope for a better life, Xi extended his best holiday wishes to the teachers and students of the school.
During his trip to the United States in November 2023, Xi announced a program to invite 50,000 American youths in the next five years to China for exchanges and study.
Sarah Lande, a friend of Xi in the U.S. state of Iowa, wrote a letter recently to Xi, in which she expressed the hope that Muscatine High School students can join the program.
With Xi's support, more than 20 Muscatine High School students paid an exchange visit to Beijing, Shanghai and Hebei Province, among other places in China from Jan. 24 to 30, becoming the first group of American students to visit China under the program.
One of their gifts to Xi upon their arrival in Beijing was a school flag written with Chinese characters "Grandpa Xi, Here We Are."
After the visit, the students wrote a letter to the Chinese president, sharing with him their joy during their China trip and thanking him for the invitation.
Related articles
China's central bank to enhance implementation of monetary policies
(Xinhua) 11:03, April 04, 2024Photo taken on Oct. 19, 2020 shows an exterior view of the People's Ba2024-06-04Indonesian police arrest 8 suspected militants, part of a banned extremist group with al
PALU, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia’s elite counterterrorism police arrested eight suspected militants2024-06-04A coffee roastery in Finland has launched an AI
HELSINKI (AP) — An artisan roastery based in the Finnish capital has introduced a coffee blend that2024-06-04The Mets have placed catcher Francisco Alvarez on the injured list after a baserunning mishap
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The New York Mets placed catcher Francisco Alvarez on the 10-day injured list Sat2024-06-04IAEA chief stresses further monitoring of Fukushima nuke wastewater discharge
(Xinhua) 14:36, March 13, 2024TOKYO, March 13 (Xinhua) -- International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)2024-06-04Burnley routs Sheffield United to boost survival chances. Luton sunk by Brentford
Burnley’s hopes of English Premier League survival were boosted by routing last-placed Sheffield Uni2024-06-04
atest comment