The future of China-US relations lies in people-to-people friendship: China Daily editorial

On the eve of President Xi Jinping's state visit to the United States, his reply to a letter from students at 10 US universities is a timely reminder that the future of China-US relations is not shaped only by official exchanges and corporate engagement. It is also built in classrooms, on sports fields, through music and the interactions between ordinary people, especially the youth.

For a relationship as consequential and complex as that between China and the US, exchanges among young people play an irreplaceable practical role. They help narrow perception gaps, increase mutual understanding and lay a social foundation for the steady and healthy development of bilateral relations.

As Xi has pointed out before, the hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in grassroots connections, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from subnational exchanges. No matter how things may change, the will of the Chinese and US peoples for exchanges and cooperation will not change, and the amity and friendship between young Chinese and Americans will not change.

During his visit to the US in November 2023, Xi announced an initiative to invite 50,000 US students to China for exchange and study programs over five years. The target was achieved two and a half years ahead of schedule, reflecting the potential of youth exchanges between the two countries.

US students have visited schools and universities in China, learned Chinese calligraphy and ancient poetry, played sports with Chinese peers, experienced traditional festivals and explored cities across the country. Such encounters allow young people to experience China firsthand.

Lincoln High School in Tacoma, Washington, offers a vivid example. During Xi's state visit to the US in September 2015, he encouraged students of the school to visit China, emphasizing education as a bridge between peoples. In 2016, 118 students and teachers from the school traveled to multiple Chinese cities. The school's then principal said the journey profoundly changed students' perceptions, providing a deeper understanding of China and fostering friendships with Chinese students.

More than a decade later, this connection endures. In 2026, Lincoln High School marked the 55th anniversary of China-US Ping-Pong Diplomacy, with students and former players recalling how sports helped open a new chapter in bilateral engagement. These are modest encounters, but their cumulative effect can be substantial.

Today, China-US relations face both opportunities and challenges. The two countries have extensive economic links and shared interests in areas ranging from climate change to people-to-people exchanges. At the same time, differences in some fields can create uncertainty. Public perceptions can harden without direct contacts that provide people with personal experience.

In recent years, the "becoming Chinese" trend on US social media proves that people-to-people and cultural exchanges are a vital way to promote mutual learning among civilizations and break down prejudice and stereotype image. This is precisely why people-to-people exchanges matter. They foster familiarity, empathy and human connections that endure over time.

For US youths who have experienced China firsthand, and for their Chinese peers who have met them, China-US relations are no longer merely an issue discussed in headlines. They become friendships, memories and shared experiences. The Chinese people welcome more US youths to visit and explore China. This new generation of envoys of friendship across the Pacific should be the inheritors, guardians and promoters of China-US friendly cooperation.

In his reply, Xi expressed hope that the US students would join the vast number of young people in both countries in striving to carry forward, uphold and advance China-US friendly cooperation, and work together to foster mutual understanding and affinity between the two peoples and to ensure the steady and long-term development of bilateral relations, so as to contribute the vitality of youth to building a better world.

Engaging in friendly exchanges and cooperation reflects the shared aspirations of the peoples of both countries. Regardless of how the bilateral relationship evolves, the desire of young people on both sides to meet, learn from one another and cooperate remains a valuable source of vitality.

The future of China-US relations will depend not only on how the two countries manage their differences, but also on whether the two peoples continue to see each other as human beings rather than abstractions.

Travel opens minds. Every handshake between students, every shared song, every game played together and every journey across the Pacific matters. The bridge between China and the US is built at the grassroots. Its builders today are ordinary people. Its keepers tomorrow will be the next generation.