Chinese President Xi Jinping Extends Warm Wishes to Muscatine High School Students

Muscatine High School

Beijing, The Gulf Observer: On the occasion of the Chinese Lantern Festival marking the Year of the Dragon, President Xi Jinping responded on Saturday to a heartfelt letter from the students of Muscatine High School in Iowa, United States.

The students had recently embarked on a cultural exchange trip to China, visiting various cities in the country.

In his letter, President Xi expressed his warm holiday wishes to the teachers and students of Muscatine High School and commended the beautifully written Chinese characters and vividly hand-painted Chinese dragon, Great Wall, and pandas featured in the students’ letter.

President Xi conveyed his happiness for the students, recounting their experiences in various Chinese cities where they encountered pandas, savored Chinese delicacies, immersed themselves in Chinese culture, and enjoyed numerous memorable moments. Learning about the students’ initiatives to make Chinese friends during their trip and extending invitations to visit their hometown in the United States, President Xi found their friendship touching and heartening.

Referencing the Chinese proverb “seeing is believing,” President Xi shared how the warm and friendly American people he encountered during his first visit to the United States in 1985 left an indelible impression on him. He expressed his belief that through such exchange visits, students can gain a more intuitive and in-depth understanding of China and its people.

Encouraging Muscatine High School students to consider revisiting China, President Xi extended an invitation to more American youths to engage in exchanges and study in China. He emphasized the value of experiencing the real China in a multi-dimensional and comprehensive manner, fostering genuine friendships with Chinese youths, and contributing to a stronger bond between the two nations.

President Xi took the opportunity to extend his best holiday wishes to the teachers and students of Muscatine High School in celebration of the Chinese Lantern Festival.

During his visit to the United States in November 2023, President Xi announced a program to invite 50,000 American youths to China for exchanges and study over the next five years. This initiative aims to promote mutual understanding and friendship between the youth of China and the United States.

Sarah Lande, a friend of President Xi in Iowa, expressed the hope in a recent letter to President Xi that Muscatine High School students would participate in the program. With President Xi’s support, more than 20 Muscatine High School students undertook an exchange visit to China, becoming the first group of American students to benefit from this initiative.

Upon their arrival in Beijing, the students presented President Xi with a school flag bearing the Chinese characters “Grandpa Xi, Here We Are.” In a letter penned after their visit, the students shared their joy and gratitude, thanking President Xi for the invitation and the enriching experience in China. The exchange marks a significant step towards strengthening people-to-people ties between China and the United States.