Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a heartfelt Chinese New Year card to his long-time friends in the U.S. state of Iowa, rekindling a friendship that spans nearly four decades.
In his message, President Xi expressed that the warm reception he received during his 1985 visit to the picturesque state of Iowa remains vivid in his memory. He highlighted the extensive common interests shared between China and the United States, emphasizing the broad potential for cooperation and the opportunity for both nations to become partners and friends.
\"China and the United States can achieve mutual success and common prosperity for the benefit of both countries and the world at large,\" President Xi stated in his card.
He also expressed hope for increased exchanges between the peoples of both nations. \"I hope our peoples will pay more visits to each other and have more exchanges, jointly writing new stories of friendship and contributing to the development of China-U.S. relations,\" he added.
Earlier, a group of 58 Iowa residents had sent a Chinese New Year card to President Xi. The group included long-time friends such as Luca Berrone, Gary Dvorchak, and Sarah Lande; former U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad and his wife; former President of the World Food Prize Foundation Kenneth Quinn; and representatives of teachers, students, and parents from Iowa involved in the \"50,000 in Five Years\" initiative—a program aimed at inviting 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study over a five-year period.
In their card, they reminisced about President Xi's first visit to Iowa in 1985 and extended their New Year greetings in honor of the Year of the Snake. The teachers, students, and parents expressed gratitude for the initiative promoting educational exchanges, shared their positive experiences from visiting China, and conveyed their eagerness to return.
The exchange of New Year greetings highlights the enduring personal connections and the potential for improved relations between China and the United States through people-to-people diplomacy and cultural exchange.
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Xi Jinping sends Chinese New Year card in response to friends in Iowa
cgtn.com
