Xi Jinping encourages US students to work for strengthened friendship

Note: The following article is taken from the Chinese-language "Commentaries on International Affairs".

In his letter to the group of over 40 students from Niles North High School in the state of Illinois, Xi Jinping provided answers to the various questions they asked him about his work, life and hobbies. His letter was drafted like he was speaking to an old friend. When talking about his role as President, Xi Jinping wrote that his job is to serve the people. Though very tiring, he told the students his role as President is also very fulfilling. The president's note also talked about his strong interest in a variety of areas, including philosophy, history, literature, culture, music and sports. He noted that he has maintained these various interests since his time in middle school. On the question of whether he likes the United States, the president said "I have visited the United States many times, and have been deeply impressed by the beautiful scenery, the hospitable people and diverse culture there. I have also made many American friends, including young friends."

President Xi Jinping visits Lincoln High School, Tacoma, Washington State, September 23, 2015. [Photo: Xinhua]

Xi Jinping also took time to praise the students' penmanship and correct phrasing in Chinese, encouraging them to keep up their Chinese learning. Calling the young generation the future of China-U.S. friendship, Xi Jinping hopes that the students will cherish their youth, study hard and do what they can to promote friendship among the people of China and the United States. The letter is yet another example of Xi Jinping's belief that it is the young people who will help drive friendship between the two peoples forward. His letter has also generated an enthusiastic response at Niles North High School, with both teachers and students saying they can feel the president's amiability and his genuine interest in helping future generations in China and the United States come together.

The letter is part of a broader goal to develop more people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States. As the president once said, "Friendship, which is derived from close contact between the people, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations." It's a philosophy which is grounded in practicality. The deeper the links between the peoples of different countries and cultures, the more likely it is their governments and leaders will adopt friendly policies. Friendships also make it more difficult to throw away any gains made in an existing relationship.

In the 40 years since Beijing and Washington first set up formal diplomatic ties, exchanges in various areas, including education, science and technology, culture, healthcare and sports have acted as both an adhesive and a propellant in the bilateral relationship. Major steps forward in the relationship have included sending government-sponsored students to one another's country, seeing NBA players spend time with students in Chinese primary schools, the founding of Confucius institutes in the United States to provide language and culture classes to the U.S. public, and so on.

As part of his own trips to the United States, Xi Jinping has personally invited American students to China. In his letter to Niles North High School students, the Chinese president calls the younger generation "the future of China-U.S. friendship." It’s acts and words like these which provide even further proof of the Chinese President's commitment to building a lasting foundation of ties with the United States.

President Xi Jinping is presented with a football jersey by the school team during his visit to Lincoln High School, Tacoma, Washington State, September 23, 2015. [Photo: Xinhua]

History has shown that the relationship between the world's biggest developed country and the biggest developing country is going to continue to go through changes. There will always have to be adjustments, particularly when competing interests diverge. But if political leaders from both sides can see past the frictions which come up in any relationship, they will realize that creating stronger inter-personal bonds can ultimately make extinguishing friction-based fires that much easier. These two great nations maintain an ample supply of water in the form of their young people.

Noting that it is better to see something once than to hear about it a hundred times, President Xi Jinping concluded his letter by saying the students of Niles North High School are welcome to visit China. This is a sentiment held by most people in China, who believe that anyone who is willing to learn about China is worthy of their trust and friendship.