People’s Daily published a signed article by Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng highlighting the early success of Xi Jinping’s initiative to invite 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study. Originally announced by Xi at a welcome banquet in San Francisco in November 2023, the initiative has achieved its target two and a half years ahead of schedule, according to Xi’s recent reply letter to participants in the “Sailing for Blue: China–U.S. Youth Friendship Journey” program.
The article states that over the past two years, the program has brought American students from all 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., to China. Participants have included university students from institutions such as Harvard University, high school groups, and youth taking part in activities ranging from pickleball cultural exchanges to choral performances. During their visits, they traveled across both coastal and inland China, including the Tibetan Plateau, Jiangnan water towns, smart factories, and rural villages, to gain what Beijing describes as a firsthand understanding of the “real China.”
Xie said China will continue to advance the initiative under Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy, institutionalizing and expanding youth exchanges while broadening cooperation in education, science and technology, culture, and sports, to cultivate a new generation of Americans who can share “China’s story” and serve as ambassadors of China–U.S. friendship.
Source: People’s Daily, June 28, 2026
https://paper.people.com.cn/rmrb/pc/content/202606/28/content_30165341.html