New book tells stories of President Xi and his "old friends" in Iowa

Sarah Lande speaks at the launch of her book "'Old Friends': The Xi Jinping-Iowa Story" in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. on Thursday, May 3, 2018. [Photo: The Chinese Embassy to the United States]

The launch of a new book "'Old Friends': The Xi Jinping-Iowa Story" by Sarah Lande has been held in Des Moines, Iowa.

The World Food Prize Hall of Laureates in downtown Des Moines has become the latest location in the forwarding of U.S.-China friendship, with the launch of the memoir "'Old Friends': The Xi Jinping-Iowa Story" by Sarah Lande, one of President Xi's "old friends" in Iowa.

The book tells the story of President Xi Jinping's history with the state of Iowa.

1985 saw Xi Jinping, then an official in Hebei Province, lead an agricultural delegation to Iowa to visit farms and agricultural facilities.

Xi Jinping and the rest of the delegation also stayed at a home in the small community of Muscatine for several days.

People attend launch ceremony of the book "'Old Friends': The Xi Jinping-Iowa Story" in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. on Thursday, May 3, 2018. [Photo: China Embassy to the United States]

Sarah Lande was among those who met and accompanied Xi Jinping through his time in Iowa.

When he returned to Iowa in 2012, Xi Jinping made a point of sitting down for tea with Lande, as well as the dozens of others who made his 1985 trip so memorable.

"Our memoir, 'The Xi Jinping-Iowa Story' will share our special story of friendship with the world. And I say, today we celebrate with you... So this is truly a memoir of the people, by the people, and for the people. It's a wonderful story showing Iowa's people-to-people friendship at its finest.

Luca Berrone, who hosted the 1985 delegation during the trip through Iowa, says their time together is something really precious.

"The book is a great testament to our 1985 trip, it's a great testament that I hope many people will read and learn from, because it's a story of relationship, it's a story of sharing experiences and sharing lives."

Luca Berrone speaks at the launch of the book "'Old Friends': The Xi Jinping-Iowa Story" in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. on Thursday, May 3, 2018. [Photo: China Plus/Qian Shanming]

Chinese Ambassador to the US, Cui Tiankai, says the new book by Sarah Lande is symbolic of the broader relationships between China and the United States over the past 40 years. 

"A seed of friendship between Iowa and China was planted and has finally grown into a tall stock. To me and to many others, the Xi Jinping-Iowa story is truly touching and inspiring. This story is about friendship, and this story is about trust, this story is about openness, and this story is also about cooperation."

Cui Tiankai, China's Ambassador to the United States, speaks at the launch of the book "'Old Friends': The Xi Jinping-Iowa Story" in Des Moines, Iowa, U.S. on Thursday, May 3, 2018. [Photo: China Embassy to the United States]

The US Ambassador to China, Terry Branstad, the former Governor of the Iowa State, has sent a congratulatory message from Beijing to the ceremony in Des Moines on Thursday.

Branstad says Lande's new book brings back great memories of the unique friendship that has flourished over many years.

He says it will serve as a lasting tribute to the enduring friendship between the people in Iowa and China.

Thursday's book launch has also included Bai Runzhang, one of the delegation members from the '85 trip, as well as Ambassador Kenneth Quinn, President of World Food Prize Foundation and Dan Stein, Chair of the Muscatine China Initiatives Committee.

File photo of the book "'Old Friends': The Xi Jinping-Iowa Story". [Photo: China Plus/Qian Shanming]