Injecting Positive Forces into the Long Term Development of US China Relations (International Forum)

The biggest gain of a trip to China is friendship. I believe that the friendship established by young people from the United States and China will promote mutual understanding between the two peoples, contribute to extensive communication between the two peoples, and inject positive energy into the long-term development of US China relations

In March of this year, I had an 11 day visit and exchange with 24 students from Lincoln High School and Stratcom High School in Washington State in China. This is an unforgettable journey of friendship. Entering China, a country with thousands of years of civilization, is a valuable experience that has changed the lives of these young Americans. This trip was rich in content and deepened our understanding of China, opening a new chapter in the friendly story between Lincoln High School and China.

      In 2016, over a hundred teachers and students from Lincoln High School visited China, which was the first time many of them had gone abroad. The experience of visiting China opened their eyes.

    My wish was soon realized, and Lincoln High School became one of the early schools to participate in the project. Thank you very much to the Chinese side for the warm reception of the teachers and students at Lincoln High School and Strathcon High School, which allowed everyone to have a wonderful journey.

This trip to China provides us with the opportunity to learn about China's rich history and culture. We visited the Palace Museum and were amazed by the solemn and exquisite historical architecture of this complex; Climb the Great Wall and experience firsthand the grandeur of this world cultural heritage site; Compete table tennis skills with world champions and learn Tai Chi from top coaches in Wudang Mountain; Not only did I taste authentic Chinese cuisine, but I also learned Chinese cuisine. American students improvised choirs, played musical instruments, and drew live with their Chinese partners, forming a deep friendship in a short period of time. On the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the United States and China, students from both countries planted 45 worry free trees in Shenzhen, symbolizing "happiness and worry free". They voiced their call to jointly create a green future and inject youthful energy into the friendship between the two peoples.

The biggest gain of this trip to China is friendship. Friendly interaction and in-depth exchanges between American students and Chinese partners. Although they come from different countries and cultural backgrounds, they share common interests, similar experiences, and shared emotions. I am very pleased to see them adding each other as WeChat friends and quickly becoming friends. I believe they will keep in touch and pass on this friendship. As long as young people from both countries have the opportunity to meet and interact, they can find a common language, break down barriers, and jointly build a vision for the future.

This trip to China has many joyful and unforgettable moments. During our visit to China, we met many talented Chinese students. Everyone once again sang "On the Field of Hope".   I deeply feel that even if students from different countries cannot completely overcome language barriers, they can still communicate emotions through kind, friendly, and warm smiles.

This trip to China has enriched the experiences of the students.   During this visit, we learned a lot of knowledge that cannot be learned from books or the internet. We eagerly look forward to maintaining good relationships with Chinese schools and providing more opportunities for students and faculty to exchange ideas. We also welcome Chinese students to our school for exchange and visits, to jointly promote friendly exchanges between the youth of the two countries.

I have witnessed mutual appreciation, friendly exchanges, and friendship between students from the United States and China. I believe that the friendship established by young people from the United States and China will promote mutual understanding between the two peoples, contribute to extensive communication between the two peoples, and inject positive energy into the long-term development of US China relations.

(The author is the principal of Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington, USA.)

People's Daily (April 15, 2024, 3rd edition)