Chinese President Xi Jinping has sent a heartfelt Chinese New Year card to his friends in the U.S. state of Iowa, highlighting the enduring friendship and vast potential for cooperation between China and the United States.
In his message, President Xi reminisced about the warm reception he received during his visit to the beautiful state of Iowa 40 years ago, a memory he holds dear to this day. He emphasized that China and the United States share extensive common interests and have broad space for cooperation, expressing his belief that the two nations can become partners and friends.
\"The warm reception I received in Iowa is still fresh in my memory,\" Xi wrote. \"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 expressed hope for increased exchanges and visits between the Chinese and American peoples. He encouraged both nations to write new stories of friendship and contribute to the development of China-U.S. relations.
Earlier, a group of 58 Iowans, 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; as well as teachers, students, and parents who participated in the \"50,000 in Five Years\" exchange initiative, jointly sent a Chinese New Year card to President Xi.
In their card, they recalled Xi's first visit to Iowa in 1985 and extended New Year greetings for the Year of the Snake. The representatives expressed their gratitude for the \"50,000 in Five Years\" initiative, shared their experiences from visiting China, and voiced their eagerness to visit again.
This exchange of greetings underscores the enduring personal connections and the importance of people-to-people exchanges in strengthening bilateral relations. As both nations look to the future, such grassroots initiatives and friendships lay a solid 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
