China-US relations through the footsteps of Xi Jinping

Chinese President Xi Jinping will meet with President Trump at Mar-a-lago, Florida in the United States from April 6 to 7.

This will be the first meeting between Xi and Trump since the US president assumed office in January. But Xi Jinping is certainly no stranger to the American people as he has been to the country seven times in the past.

April 1985, in Muscatine, Iowa

Xi Jinping (left) leads an agricultural delegation on a visit to Iowa in April 1985. [Photo: people.cn]

The then 32-year-old Xi led a five-person agricultural delegation to Muscatine, Iowa, living with a local family and exchanging their experience in agriculture and stock farming.

He was then the secretary of the Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) of Zhengding County, north China's Hebei province.

During the stay, he visited farms, attended a local birthday party and picnicked on a boat with his hosts on the Mississippi River.

Xi Jinping (center) at a picnic at the farm of Janet Rauch in April 1985 [Photo: people.cn]