Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a Chinese New Year card to his friends in the U.S. state of Iowa, expressing warm wishes and emphasizing the importance of friendship and cooperation between China and the United States.
In his message, President Xi fondly recalled his visit to the picturesque state of Iowa 40 years ago, noting that the heartfelt hospitality he received remains vivid in his memory. He highlighted the extensive common interests shared by China and the United States, stating that both nations \"can become partners and friends\" and work towards mutual success and prosperity for the benefit of their peoples and the world.
President Xi expressed hope for increased exchanges between the Chinese and American peoples, encouraging more visits and interactions. \"Let us jointly write new stories of friendship between our peoples and make new contributions to the development of China-U.S. relations,\" he said.
The New Year card from President Xi was in response to a card sent earlier by 58 friends from Iowa, including Luca Berrone, Gary Dvorchak, 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 signatories were 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 message, the Iowa friends reminisced about President Xi's first visit to Iowa in 1985 and extended their New Year greetings for the Year of the Snake. The teachers, students, and parents expressed their gratitude for the \"50,000 in Five Years\" initiative, shared their positive experiences from visiting China, and voiced their eagerness to return.
President Xi's exchange of New Year greetings with his Iowa friends underscores the enduring personal connections and the potential for strengthening ties between China and the United States through people-to-people exchanges.
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Xi Jinping sends Chinese New Year card in response to friends in Iowa
cgtn.com
