Chinese President Xi Jinping has extended warm Chinese New Year greetings to his friends in the U.S. state of Iowa, underscoring the enduring friendship between the peoples of China and the United States. In a heartfelt card sent on Monday, President Xi reminisced about the warm reception he received during his visit to Iowa 40 years ago, a memory that remains vivid to this day.
\"The hospitality and kindness you showed me during my visit to your beautiful state are still fresh in my memory,\" Xi wrote. \"China and the United States share extensive common interests and have broad space for cooperation. We can become partners and friends, achieving mutual success and common prosperity for the benefit of both countries and the world at large.\"
President Xi expressed his hope for increased exchanges between the two peoples, encouraging more visits and interactions. \"Let's jointly write new stories of friendship between our peoples and make new contributions to the development of China-U.S. relations,\" he added.
The Chinese president's message was in response to a Chinese New Year card he received from 58 friends in Iowa. The group included long-time acquaintances 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; as well as teachers, students, and parents involved in educational exchanges.
In their card, the Iowa friends reminisced about President Xi's first visit to their state in 1985 and extended New Year greetings on the occasion of the Year of the Snake. Representatives from the educational community thanked Xi for initiating the \"50,000 in Five Years\" program, which aims to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study over a five-year period. They shared their experiences of visiting China and expressed their eagerness to return.
This exchange of New Year greetings highlights the personal bonds forged over decades and the potential for grassroots connections to strengthen bilateral relations. As both nations navigate complex global challenges, such people-to-people ties serve as a foundation for mutual understanding and cooperation.
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Xi Jinping sends Chinese New Year card in response to friends in Iowa
cgtn.com
