On September 23, 2024, President Yang Wanming of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) hosted a welcome reception in Beijing for the youth delegation from Washington State, the United States. The delegation comprised Logic Amen, Assistant Principal of Lincoln High School, Maryn Sage, Assistant Principal of Stadium High School; and David Chong, President of the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association. Over 130 participants attended the event, including teachers and students from Beijing No. 8 High School and the High School Affiliated to Beijing Normal University, as well as representatives from China Tourism Group (CTG), UnionPay International, and other enterprises. Vice President Shen Xin presided over the reception.
In his remarks, President Yang highlighted that since President Xi Jinping announced to bring 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs in the next five years, it has been encouraging to see more than 10,000 American youths have visited China, thanks to the strong support from various sectors in both countries. He highlighted that Washington State stands as an important symbol of China-U.S. friendship. The current visit of the “Shared Journey for China-U.S. Friendship” Washington State youth delegation to Guizhou, Sichuan, Shandong, and Beijing represents a continuation of this “relay of friendship”. He expressed his hope that the delegates would become seeds of China-U.S. friendship, encouraging more Americans to get to know, understand, and appreciate China, thereby opening a new chapter for future cooperation and friendship between the two countries.
The American guests expressed their gratitude to the CPAFFC for its invitation and warm hospitality. They remarked that their visit allowed them to experience the warmth, friendliness, openness, and inclusiveness of the Chinese people. They also discovered a greater sense of common ground with their Chinese counterparts and expressed their willingness to contribute to enhancing China-U.S. friendship in the future.
Chinese and American student representatives performed a variety of programs during the reception, including a solo flute performance of “Driving the Horses to Deliver Grain”, a choral rendition of “The Moon Represents My Heart”, Native American tribal dances, and street dance. The participants also engaged in friendly exchanges throughout the event.
