Unwavering Confidence in People-to-People Friendship: President Xi Jinping

Beijing — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a Chinese New Year greeting card and a warm message to his old friends in the U.S. state of Iowa. He expressed confidence that regardless of how the current international situation evolves, the desire of the Chinese and American peoples for exchanges and cooperation will never change.

Recalling his visit to Iowa 41 years ago, President Xi said the warm hospitality he received there remains fresh in his memory to this day. He noted that those cherished memories have further strengthened the bonds of friendship between the peoples of the two countries.

According to Xi, the hope of China-U.S. relations lies in the people, its foundation rests in the societies, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from exchanges at local and subnational levels. He also expressed confidence that the bonds of mutual understanding and affinity between the young people of the two countries will remain unbreakable.

President Xi urged his friends in Iowa to remain committed to promoting friendship between the peoples of the two nations. He also called for encouraging more young Americans to become inheritors of China-U.S. friendship and ambassadors of peace and goodwill, so as to make greater contributions to the development of bilateral relations.

Earlier, Luca Berrone wrote to President Xi on behalf of the Iowa friends, extending Chinese New Year greetings to Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan. In the letter, the Iowa friends expressed that they cherish their friendship with the Chinese people and are committed to further developing it.

Along with Berrone, Sarah Lande, Gary Dvorchak, Rick Kimberley, former U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad, President Emeritus of the World Food Prize Foundation Kenneth Quinn, as well as teachers and students from Iowa who participated in the “50,000 in Five Years” initiative, also sent a New Year card to President Xi and his wife. They reiterated their willingness to strengthen friendly exchanges between the two countries and contribute to the development of bilateral ties.

This exchange of New Year greetings is seen not merely as a formality, but as a clear signal that people-to-people friendship and cooperation can ensure the long-term stability of China-U.S. relations.