Chinese President Xi Jinping has reached out across the Pacific to rekindle old friendships, sending a Chinese New Year card to his friends in the U.S. state of Iowa. The gesture reflects the long-standing ties between Xi and the people of Iowa, dating back nearly four decades.
\"The warm reception I received when I visited the beautiful state of Iowa 40 years ago is still fresh in my memory,\" Xi wrote in his message. He emphasized the extensive common interests shared by China and the United States, highlighting the broad space for cooperation between the two nations. \"China and the United States can achieve mutual success and common prosperity for the benefit of both countries and the world at large,\" he stated.
President Xi expressed hope for increased exchanges between the peoples of both countries. \"I hope our two peoples will pay more visits to each other and have more exchanges, jointly write new stories of friendship, and make new contributions to the development of China-U.S. relations,\" he wrote.
The New Year card was sent in response to a card from 58 Iowa residents, including 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. These individuals had previously participated in an initiative inviting 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study over a five-year period.
In their card, the Iowa friends recalled Xi's first visit to Iowa in 1985 and extended New Year greetings to President Xi. The representatives of teachers, students, and parents expressed gratitude for the \"50,000 in Five Years\" initiative, shared their experiences from visiting China, and voiced their eagerness to visit China again.
The exchange of New Year cards underscores the enduring friendship between Xi Jinping and the people of Iowa—a relationship that symbolizes the potential for positive relations between China and the United States at large. As both nations navigate the complexities of international relations, such personal connections serve as a reminder of the common ground shared by their peoples.
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Xi Jinping sends Chinese New Year card in response to friends in Iowa
cgtn.com
