习近平复信美国马斯卡廷中学访华代表团学生

新华社北京2月24日电 国家主席习近平在中国龙年元宵节复信美国马斯卡廷中学访华代表团学生并回赠新春贺卡，向他们和全校师生致以节日祝福，欢迎更多美国青少年来中国交流学习。

习近平表示，你们来信的汉字写得很漂亮，手绘的中国龙、长城和熊猫很形象！得知你们到访了好几个城市，看大熊猫，品中国美食，体验中华文化，感到“超级开心”，我非常高兴。听说你们结识了许多中国小伙伴，并且邀请他们回访你们的家乡，你们之间结下的友谊令人感动。

习近平指出，中国有句俗语：百闻不如一见。1985年我第一次访问美国时，热情友好的美国人民给我留下了难忘的印象。相信通过这次交流访问，你们对中国和中国人民也会有更直观、更深入的了解。欢迎你们再来中国，也欢迎更多美国青少年朋友来华交流学习，亲身感受一个真实、立体、全面的中国，与中国青少年交心交友、互学互鉴，为增进两国人民之间的友谊携手贡献力量。

习近平在复信中说，今天是中国龙年的元宵节，元宵节是中国人共祝美好生活的重要时刻，我向你们和学校全体师生致以节日的美好祝福！

2023年11月，习近平主席访美期间宣布，中方未来5年愿邀请5万名美国青少年来华交流学习。美国艾奥瓦州友人萨拉·兰蒂近期致信习主席，表示希望马斯卡廷中学也参与这一计划。在习主席关心下，1月24日至30日，作为该项目第一批来华的美国中学生，马斯卡廷中学20多名学生到北京、河北和上海等地进行了交流访问。代表团抵京时，给习主席带来了写有中文“习爷爷，我们来了”字样的校旗等礼物。访问结束后，代表团学生致信习主席，讲述访华之行的喜悦心情，对邀请他们来华交流访问表示感谢。

Xi replies to letter from Iowa's Muscatine High School students

BEIJING, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Saturday, also the Chinese Lantern Festival of the Year of the Dragon, replied to a letter from students of the U.S. Iowa state's Muscatine High School who visited China in late January and sent them New Year cards in return.

In the letter, Xi extended holiday wishes to the teachers and students of the school, and encouraged more American youths to come to China for exchanges and study.

Xi noted that the students' letter featured beautifully written Chinese characters as well as vividly hand-painted Chinese dragon, also known as the "loong," the Great Wall and pandas.

The Chinese president said he felt happy for the students as they visited several Chinese cities, where they saw pandas, tasted Chinese delicacies, experienced Chinese culture, and had a lot of fun.

Learning that the U.S. students have made many Chinese friends during the trip, and invited those friends to visit their hometown in the United States, Xi said he found their friendship very touching.

Citing a Chinese saying that reads "seeing is believing," Xi said the warm and friendly American people he met during his first visit to the United States in 1985 have given him an indelible impression.

Likewise, it is believed that through this exchange visit, the students can gain a more intuitive and in-depth understanding of China and the Chinese people, Xi said.

The Chinese president encouraged the Muscatine High School students to revisit China and encouraged more American youths to come to China for exchanges and study, where they can get first-hand experience of a real China in a multi-dimensional and comprehensive manner, foster genuine friendship with Chinese youths and learn from each other so that they can jointly contribute to a stronger friendship between the people of the two countries.

Noting that the Chinese Lantern Festival has long been an important moment for the Chinese people to express their hope for a better life, Xi extended his best holiday wishes to the teachers and students of the school.

During his trip to the United States in November 2023, Xi announced a program to invite 50,000 American youths in the next five years to China for exchanges and study.

Sarah Lande, a friend of Xi in the U.S. state of Iowa, wrote a letter recently to Xi, in which she expressed the hope that Muscatine High School students can join the program.

With Xi's support, more than 20 Muscatine High School students paid an exchange visit to Beijing, Shanghai and Hebei Province, among other places in China from Jan. 24 to 30, becoming the first group of American students to visit China under the program.

One of their gifts to Xi upon their arrival in Beijing was a school flag written with Chinese characters "Grandpa Xi, Here We Are."

After the visit, the students wrote a letter to the Chinese president, sharing with him their joy during their China trip and thanking him for the invitation. ■