2024-04-26 05:20
Source: Xinhuanet
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BEIJING, April 25 (Xinhua) -- In 1985, Xi Jinping, the party secretary of Zhengding County, Hebei Province, led an agricultural delegation to visit the United States. In the small town of Muscatine, Iowa, he met several ordinary Americans, formed deep friendships with them, and wrote a good story of friendly exchanges between the Chinese and American peoples.
Now, under the care of President Xi Jinping, a group of American high school students from Muscatine have flown across the ocean and crossed thousands of miles to visit China for exchanges and spend an unforgettable journey of "friendship inheritance" with their Chinese partners.
"Being different doesn't stop us from being friends"
"I'm glad to have the opportunity to come to China", "I'm very excited all the way", "The roads in Beijing are very wide, and the flowers on both sides of the road are so beautiful......
On April 17th, the Muscatine High School "Friendship Inheritance" research group arrived in Beijing for an eight-day research trip. In the hotel lobby, the American students, who were still in line to check in, were dragging their luggage and waiting to share their experiences with the Chinese students who came to greet them.
This is the second batch of Muscatine Middle School students to go to China for exchange and study this year. During his visit to the United States in November last year, President Xi Jinping announced that China would invite 50,000 American youths to China for exchange and study in the next five years. Subsequently, Sarah Landy, a friend from Iowa, sent a letter to President Xi expressing the hope that Muscatine Middle School would also participate in this program. Under the care of President Xi Jinping, from January 24 to 30, the first batch of more than 20 students from Muscatine High School visited China.
In order to help the 32 students in the study group come to China for the first time, 32 Chinese students from Shijiazhuang Foreign Chinese School "paired" with them one by one to embark on a friendship journey together.
Beijing is the first stop of the research camp, and the teachers and students from across the ocean have been deeply impressed by the Olympic Forest Park, the majestic Forbidden City, the majestic Great Wall and the Chinese school full of books.
On the afternoon of the 18th, the research group came to the alma mater of scientist Qian Xuesen, the High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University. The school prepared a warm welcome for the guests from afar, and Chinese and American teenagers experienced a series of courses rich in Chinese cultural characteristics, such as guqin, pitching pot, Peking opera, and folk dance.
On April 18th, students from the Muscatine School's "Inheritance of Friendship" study group experienced a folk dance with Chinese students at the High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency)
"I love to dance, and I do it a lot in the United States. The Chinese folk dance I experienced today is very different from the dance I usually dance in the United States. In particular, these distinctive national costumes are truly unforgettable. American student Acho Ajab said excitedly.
In the fashion design experience class, with the encouragement of his Chinese friend Yuan Yifan, Kayden Kalig wore a white shirt with Chinese elements that he participated in the design. Facing the media camera, 15-year-old Kayden Kalig was a little shy: "There are a lot of tall buildings here, which are not quite like my hometown. Although I haven't known my Chinese friend for a long time, and there is still a little language barrier in communication, I can feel her friendliness and help, and I am very grateful. ”
Yuan Yifan said that she and Kaiden Kalig are the same age, and during the conversation, they found that they have many differences in curriculum arrangements and living habits. "But those differences don't stop us from being friends. We shared our anecdotes and worries about life with each other, and discovered that we both enjoyed roller coasters and theme parks. ”
Early in the morning of the 19th, the research group came to the Badaling Great Wall. In the cool mountain breeze, the students raised their eyes and looked into the distance, and the Yanshan Mountain Range, which was draped in fresh green, stretched majestically, and everyone took out their mobile phones to take pictures. Reece Stephens, an American student, said, "The rolling mountains reminded me of the United States, my hometown. It's beautiful and the people are more welcoming than expected. I love to travel and hope to come back to China one day. ”
"Planting a Tree of Friendship Together"
On the 20th, the research group came to Hebei and walked into Shijiazhuang Foreign Chinese School in the warm welcome song of the drum band, and played ancient poems, table tennis, and dumplings with the friends here......
Luca Peron, an old friend of President Xi Jinping in Iowa, Dan Steyn, Chairman of the China Friendship Committee in Muscatine, Iowa, and Bai Runzhang, a member of the Shijiazhuang Agricultural Delegation to the United States in 1985, told the younger generation the story of President Xi's visit to Muscatine in 1985 and the sincere exchanges between the Chinese and American people across time and space.
Every time they heard something moving, many children at the scene shed tears of emotion.
On April 20, Chinese and American students came to the "Sino-US Friendship Inheritance Youth Forest" in Zhengding, Hebei Province, and planted the "Friendship Tree" together. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Zhang Cang)
Ma Aoxuan, a 17-year-old Chinese student, quietly wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes, and his American friend Sawyer Zeke noticed the action and gently patted Ma Aoxuan's shoulder. "I was also touched by these stories, and it was not easy to maintain a friendship that lasted for almost 40 years. This tells us that people can build friendships with people who are different from themselves. I have a good relationship with Ma Aoxuan, and we always stay together these days. Sawyer Zeke said.
Christina De Vries, a Year 12 student at Muscatine School, said: "Because of the friendship I made nearly 40 years ago, I have the opportunity to come to China today and learn about a completely different country. She said that she was lucky to meet her Chinese friend Zhang Wenwen here, "In the past few days, she helped me translate and took me to the places I wanted to go, and we gained a precious friendship." ”
Luca Veron hopes that American students will be "sponges" and take as much as possible from their trip to China. "I hope that the children can see from the stories of our generation that the friendly exchanges between the two peoples can be continued. He said President Xi's interactions with Muscatine residents have set an example for the youth of both countries. The American students were invited to visit China, which was a meaningful step towards increasing mutual understanding. "I think this is also how our generation will pass the torch of friendship to the next generation. ”
On the afternoon of the 20th, Chinese and American students came to the "Sino-US Friendship Inheritance Youth Forest" in Zhengding, Hebei Province, and planted the "Friendship Tree" with their own famous brands.
Colin Mirechi, a 17-year-old American high school student, said he was inspired by the story of his "old friend." "These stories have taught me to cherish friendships, especially those with my Chinese partners who have crossed thousands of miles. Today, we have planted a tree of friendship that belongs to us, which not only establishes a tangible bond between us and our Chinese partners, but also symbolizes the friendly exchanges between the people of the United States and China. Colin Mireich said that he and his Chinese partners shared each other's ideals during the trip, and they both looked forward to growing up together as better people and closer friends.
Seeing the children filling and watering the Tree of Friendship, Bai Runzhang said with emotion: "President Xi has planted a towering tree of friendship for us, and now the children have planted a small tree of friendship together, and these small trees will definitely thrive." ”
"Passing on this friendship in your own way"
In Hebei, the delegation also visited Shijiazhuang Zoo to get close to China's "national treasure" giant pandas, visited the Xiong'an Impression Exhibition Hall, experienced the pulse of the construction of the new area through three-dimensional sand table models and digital commentators, and walked into Xiong'an Yuerong Park to experience the beauty of Chinese gardens among the pavilions and corridors.
The most exciting part for the children is seeing the giant pandas. "This is the first time I've seen a giant panda in person, and it's definitely an experience I'll never forget!" said 17-year-old Madarin Shippi with excitement on her face, "I'm going to send the picture to my mom, and she'll love these adorable pandas as much as I do." ”
Just two days before the children visited the Giant Panda Pavilion, the China Wildlife Conservation Association and the San Francisco Zoo signed a letter of intent for international conservation cooperation in giant pandas in Beijing on the 19th. The two sides will advance various preparations to achieve a pair of giant pandas at the San Francisco Zoo in 2025.
Christina De Vries' family had just retweeted the news to her in the morning. "My dream was to be a zoo veterinarian, and now I know I'm going to work hard to become a veterinarian at the San Francisco Zoo. She laughs and says that giant pandas will be her special connection to China. "In the future, whenever I see giant pandas, I will think of this pleasant trip to China and my lovely and friendly Chinese friends. ”
Abigail Sher, a Year 9 student at Muscatine Middle School, asked her Chinese friend, Lu Minjia, "What color do you like?" and after receiving the answer, she bought two panda key chains, one for herself and one for Lu Minjia. "The purple and pink keychains go so well together. Abigail Schell proudly displays the keychain, "When I return to the United States, friendship is still with us." ”
Gary Dwoček, the son of President Xi Jinping's landlord during his visit to Muscatine in 1985, was accompanied by the study group. Seeing the children's friendships so strong, he was relieved to say, "It's great to be friends. One of the most rewarding outcomes of the study is that young people from both countries have discovered that there are differences, but there are also many similarities. I'm sure over time, they'll realize that this trip could be a lifelong friendship. ”
Happy times always pass faster, and in the blink of an eye, the last two days of the study group's trip to China are coming. From the 23rd to the 24th, the research camp came to Shanghai, visited the Yu Garden, took a night tour of the Bund, walked into the historical and cultural town of Zhujiajiao, and experienced the unique charm of modernity and history on both sides of the Pujiang River.
Christina Coulter, an 11th grader at Muscatine Middle School, bought a pair of chopsticks for her parents as a gift in Yu Garden. She said that today's Muscatine carries more stories and expectations of friendly exchanges between China and the United States. "We feel a lot of warmth here, and we are looking forward to Chinese friends visiting my hometown. As long as the interaction continues, the friendship between the people of the United States and China will endure. ”
On April 23, students from Muscatine School's "Friendship Inheritance" study group took a group photo on the Bund in Shanghai. (Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wang Xiang)
In the beautiful night of the Bund, American student Irish Holbert was amazed by the glamorous sight of the Lujiazui group of buildings. "The trip to China allowed me to experience the way Chinese live, study and work up close, and formed deep friendships with my friends here. When I go back, I tell my family and friends that they should come to China at least once. ”
Fifteen-year-old Valeria Baltazar was reluctant to leave China. "I will remember the interesting traditional Chinese classes, the novelty exhibits in the museum, the delicious food, and the cute and enthusiastic Chinese friends. She said that she now understands the meaning of the name of the research group, "Friendship Inheritance". "I will pass on this friendship in my own way. After returning to China, I will encourage my younger sister, who is in elementary school, to learn Chinese and encourage her to come to China and make Chinese friends. I think that's how I pass on this friendship. (Reporter Dong Xue, Bai Lin, Zhang Cang, Yang Kai)