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Xi revisits Tacoma, meets with students

Source: Agencies | September 25, 2015, Friday | Online Edition

Program Code: 0909346150905006 | Source: CNTV

DURING Xi's trip to Washington State, Chinese President Xi Jinping turned out to be a big hit with students, especially at Lincoln High School in the city of Tacoma, just an hour south of Seattle.

Students from several Tacoma high schools lined the street outside Lincoln High giggling and giddy - documenting the once in a lifetime visit that lie in store.

"I'm really interested in international affairs and politics and this is an opportunity for me to see one of the most powerful men in the world," said Virginia Walkey, high school senior.

"Really looking forward to seeing our president appear in front of me so it means a lot," said Jin Huang, high school sophomore from China.

These students are both nervous and excited about meeting President Xi Jinping.

They strive to make a good impression and make him feel welcome.

The Lincoln High School football team --- the Abes --- gave their special guest a dose of America's most popular sport - by presenting him an American football and a personalized jersey.

President Xi brought the Abes a ping pong table, a collection of books about China, and a big surprise ---an invitation for 100 students from Lincoln High School to be guests of the Chinese government next year.

"As we Chinese say, a person has to read thousands of books, but at the same time travels thousands of miles....to be our guests next year," Xi said.

Xi's personal touch impressed the students in an advanced placement government class he visited.

"Our fellow students talking about going to China and their dreams and our teacher and the president talking, he came up to our table and shook all of our hands. It was awesome," said Briana Rangel, student. 

President Xi first visited Tacoma more than 20 years ago while striking a sister city relationship between the port city and Fuzhou, China where he was a local party official. And today, nearly 22 billion dollars' worth of goods is shipped between Tacoma and China, making China Tacoma's largest trading partner.

Harold Moss is the former Tacoma mayor who signed the sister city agreement with then party official Xi two decades ago.

"It's moments like this that you carry the rest of your life. You never forget them. You just never forget them. As you get older, the importance of them becomes even more so. As we exchange students, it will become even more because it will be more tangible and real," he said.

For President Xi, this trip was both about recalling his memories of days gone by, while also creating plenty of new ones future generations.

Nation


 

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