Xi's exchanges with people in US pay off

'Fruitful connections'

They also had extended sincere wishes for the success of the 31st FISU World University Games, which were held from July 28 to Aug 8 in Chengdu, Sichuan province, and the Asian Games, which are scheduled for Sept 23 to October 8 in Hangzhou.

"We anticipate these events will amplify the friendship and cooperation between our nations, further enhancing the fruitful connections that have already been initiated," they wrote.

In his reply last month, Xi wrote, "To grow China-US relations, the hope is in the people, the foundation lies among the people, and the future lies with the youth.

"I hope more young people from China and the US will get to know each other better, work hand in hand, and become a new generation of ambassadors of friendship to inject fresh impetus into the growth of China-US relations," he added.

Xi's constant dedication to advancing people-to-people exchanges over the past decade, through such means as meetings, visits and letters, has impressed people from all walks of life from both nations, including officials, entrepreneurs, students and scholars.

Lynn Eisenhauer, who teaches the Lincoln High School choir, said she can still remember the lyrics of the Chinese song On the Field of Hope.

"After that visit, the president invited 100 of our students to come to China for a friendship visit," she said, and in recent years, she has led students on visits to the country across the Pacific Ocean.

She said she was excited to bring students "who have never flown on an airplane or been out of the state they live in to come to visit and make friends from all over the world".

David Chong, founder and president of the US-China Youth and Student Exchange Association, noted that during Xi's trip in 2015, the leader chose to visit Lincoln High School, an integral part of the everyday life of grassroots-level Americans.

"We wrote the letter to President Xi in July because we want to let him know that not all the American people are countering China as depicted by some US mass media. There are many friendly figures working to carry forward and pass down US-China friendship," he said.

"Some individuals have been hyping the prospect of the two countries going to war against each other. That's nonsense. The two countries were allies during World War II against militarism and fascism. How come the allies have become rivals?

"No parents could even look at the possibility of seeing their children meeting on the battlefield. And we believe that the tense atmosphere between the two countries will be improved one day, so long as the general public continues to recognize the necessity of keeping exchanges afloat," he added.

Yuan Zheng, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of American Studies, said that both Beijing and Washington have recently been more aware of the necessity of embarking on communication and dialogue, particularly in times when ties are strained.

"The China-US ties have always been one of the most significant bilateral ties in the world, and the great emphasis attached by China on the relations has not ever changed," he said.

Maurice Chong, speaking of his ongoing studies and team research in China, said: "The scientific exchanges between the youth are very pure, with an eye on our shared academic interests. We enjoy great prospects, and it is necessary for us to help the whole of humanity move forward together.

"We don't expect subnational exchanges to be demonized, and many young American people are vulnerable and sensitive to ill-founded attacks by the media and public opinion," he added.