習近平復信美國馬斯卡廷中學訪華代表團學生

新華社北京2月24日電 國家主席習近平在中國龍年元宵節復信美國馬斯卡廷中學訪華代表團學生並回贈新春賀卡，向他們和全校師生致以節日祝福，歡迎更多美國青少年來中國交流學習。

習近平表示，你們來信的漢字寫得很漂亮，手繪的中國龍、長城和熊貓很形象！得知你們到訪了好幾個城市，看大熊貓，品中國美食，體驗中華文化，感到“超級開心”，我非常高興。聽説你們結識了許多中國小夥伴，並且邀請他們回訪你們的家鄉，你們之間結下的友誼令人感動。

習近平指出，中國有句俗語：百聞不如一見。1985年我第一次訪問美國時，熱情友好的美國人民給我留下了難忘的印象。相信通過這次交流訪問，你們對中國和中國人民也會有更直觀、更深入的了解。歡迎你們再來中國，也歡迎更多美國青少年朋友來華交流學習，親身感受一個真實、立體、全面的中國，與中國青少年交心交友、互學互鑒，為增進兩國人民之間的友誼攜手貢獻力量。

習近平在復信中説，今天是中國龍年的元宵節，元宵節是中國人共祝美好生活的重要時刻，我向你們和學校全體師生致以節日的美好祝福！

2023年11月，習近平主席訪美期間宣佈，中方未來5年願邀請5萬名美國青少年來華交流學習。美國艾奧瓦州友人薩拉·蘭蒂近期致信習主席，表示希望馬斯卡廷中學也參與這一計劃。在習主席關心下，1月24日至30日，作為該項目第一批來華的美國中學生，馬斯卡廷中學20多名學生到北京、河北和上海等地進行了交流訪問。代表團抵京時，給習主席帶來了寫有中文“習爺爺，我們來了”字樣的校旗等禮物。訪問結束後，代表團學生致信習主席，講述訪華之行的喜悅心情，對邀請他們來華交流訪問表示感謝。

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. ■