In a gesture of goodwill and remembrance, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a Chinese New Year card on Monday to friends in the U.S. state of Iowa. The president fondly recalled his visit to Iowa 40 years ago, noting that the warm reception he received remains fresh in his memory.
President Xi emphasized that China and the United States share extensive common interests and have broad space for cooperation. \"We can become partners and friends,\" he remarked, highlighting the potential for mutual success and common prosperity that would benefit both nations and the world at large.
Expressing his hopes for the future, Xi called for increased exchanges between the peoples of both countries. \"I hope our two peoples will pay more visits to each other, have more exchanges, jointly write new stories of friendship, and make new contributions to the development of China-U.S. relations,\" he said.
The Chinese New Year card was initially sent to President Xi by 58 people from Iowa, including his old friends Luca Berrone, Gary Dvorchak, and Sarah Lande; former U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad and his wife; and former President of the World Food Prize Foundation Kenneth Quinn. Also among the senders were representatives of teachers, students, and parents from Iowa who participated in the initiative of inviting 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study over a five-year period.
In their card, the Iowans reminisced about Xi's first visit to the state in 1985 and extended their New Year greetings in the Year of the Snake. The teachers, students, and parents expressed gratitude for the \"50,000 in Five Years\" initiative, shared their experiences of visiting China, and voiced their eagerness to return.
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Xi Jinping sends Chinese New Year card in response to friends in Iowa
cgtn.com
