Editor's Note:

Chinese people believe that letters are as valuable as gold. For thousands of years, letters, across mountains and oceans, have been delivering the writers' sentiments and conveying friendship and expectations.

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and Chinese president, has managed to find time to reply to some of the letters sent to him from different sectors of the society and different parts of the world despite of his busy work schedule.

Through his letters, Xi has corresponded with people from all walks of life on numerous occasions, part of a series of excellent China stories in the new era.

The Global Times traced and contacted some of the recipients of Xi's letters, to hear the inspiring stories behind the letters and their communications with the Chinese president.

In this installment, the Global Times speaks with teachers and students from Muscatine High School in Iowa, the US, who shared their experiences and insights from their visit to China for exchanges after being invited by President Xi, as well as their hopes for future youth exchanges between China and the US.

"I'm extremely thankful that President Xi spent time to write to us. It was very touching he was able to hear about the amazing times on our trip," Seinna Stonking, a freshman at Muscatine High School in the central US state of Iowa, told the Global Times.

This spring, Stoneking felt inspired and fruitful. She, together with more than 20 other students from her school, received a special gift - a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping after they concluded their visit to China, which they considered as a "life-changing" and "eye-opening" journey.

On February 24, which marked the Chinese Lantern Festival of the Year of the Dragon, Xi replied to a letter from the students of Muscatine High School who visited China in late January and sent them New Year cards in return.

In the letter, 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 the Chinese youth, and learn from each other so that they can jointly contribute to a stronger friendship between the people of the two countries.

Over the years, notwithstanding setbacks in China-US relations, Xi has consistently championed people-to-people exchanges with the US. He has written letters to Americans, stressing that the hope of the China-US relationship lies in the people, its foundation is in grass-roots connections, its future depends on the youth, and its vitality comes from subnational exchanges.

In tandem with the fervent hopes of the Chinese people, an increasing number of young Americans are immersing themselves in the vibrant tapestry of China. They're not merely visiting the nation, but also securing this chance to embrace the country's rich culture, and feel a profound connection between the two countries.

'Dear Grandpa Xi'

In an interview with the Global Times, students from Muscatine High School weren't bashful about their gratitude to President Xi.

"In my and my classmates' letter to President Xi, we wanted to highlight how eye-opening this trip truly was. To add on to this, how grateful we were to be able to have this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Stonking said.

With Xi's support, several Muscatine High School students paid an exchange visit to Beijing, Shanghai, and Hebei Province, among other places in China from January 24 to 30, becoming the first group of American students to visit China under a program Xi announced at Welcome Dinner by Friendly Organizations in the US, in San Francisco during his visit to the country in November 2023. The program aimed at inviting 50,000 American youths over the next five years to China for exchanges and study.

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

Behind the phrase "Here We Are" was the excitement most students feel when coming to China for the first time, where they climb the Great Wall, visit the Forbidden City, and experience traditional Chinese culture such as writing Chinese calligraphy and weaving Chinese knots.

"It was a new experience for me; it was life-changing and I loved the Great Wall and Shanghai. I had a great time meeting all the teachers and students," Leo Regennitter, a sophomore at the school, told the Global Times.

"The most memorable experience for me will always be the opportunity I got to make a connection with many students I met. All the students and teachers were so unbelievably kind and hardworking. The many places I went to like the Great Wall or the Shanghai Tower took my breath away and were so beautiful," Stonking recalled.

On January 28, before the end of our visit to China, the children discussed what gifts they could give President Xi, to express their gratitude for inviting them to visit China and share with him the joy of their visit, Heidi Kuo, a Chinese language teacher at Muscatine High School, told the Global Times.

Then, a letter featuring beautifully written Chinese characters to "Dear Grandpa Xi" was born.

"Many students poured their heart into their letters, sketching the awe-inspiring highlights of their China journey. From the majestic Great Wall to the cuddly panda, each illustration breathed life into their experiences. There was also a vivid strokes of a hand-painted Chinese dragon in the letter that truly captured their belief in its symbolic representation of China," shared Kuo.

"China is really huge, just like the US. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to come to China," said the letter signed by over 20 students, with hearts drawn next to their signatures.
According to Muscatine Journal, on February 28, during their monthly work session, the Muscatine School Board had the opportunity to hear directly from some of the students and chaperones who visited China for a week, where both Regennitter and Stoneking had the chance to speak about some of their experiences.

Regennitter shared the wonderful experiences the group had at the Shijiazhuang Foreign Language School, which is Muscatine's sister school, where they played table tennis and learned to make Chinese knots. The group also had the opportunity to celebrate Chinese New Year at the Zhang Yuan Garden, where they were joined by college students from the US.

"I told so many people in my life it was an amazing experience that I'll never forget. If any student was thinking of going and was unsure, I would them to go for it and they won't regret it," Stoneking told the Global Times. "It's a completely different experience to see China in person," she emphasized.

While also citing the Chinese saying "seeing is believing" in his reply letter, Xi said the warm and friendly American people he met during his first visit to the US in 1985 have given him an indelible impression.

The same touching experience has happened after three decades, among a group of high school students.

"While in China, I've never felt safer and did not view the country as it can sometimes be portrayed in American media," Stoneking said.

Many US media outlets reported that the students' trip to China came amid increased tensions between the US and China in the wake of a series of fractious actions.

However, American students who come to China see that Chinese and American students have forged deep friendships and are eager to communicate with and learn about each other.

"From what I experienced, the people of the US and China are more similar than different and we can learn a lot from each other," Stonking stressed.

Stonking said she felt the trip to China was "so motivating," and encouraged her to learn more about the Chinese language and the culture, "If I get the opportunity I would love to go to college in China and I hope to be a fluent speaker (of Chinese) someday."

Friendship continues to flourish

Muscatine is honored to have sent the first batch of students in the youth exchange program. The encouragement of interactions between the young people of the two countries is a continuation of the nearly 40-year friendship between Xi and the people of Muscatine, American entrepreneur Gary Dvorchak told the Global Times.

In the spring of 1985, Xi, at that time a county leader in Zhengding, in China's northern province of Hebei, took his initial steps on US soil.

From then on, Xi never forgot his American friends and believes that people hold the key to state-to-state relations.

During his trip to the US in November 2023, Xi recalled the story of this friendship with his old friends, mentioning that the house number during his stay was No. 2911 Bonnie Drive.

Today, 2911 Bonnie Drive, just two kilometers from Muscatine High School, has a more familiar name among locals - Sino-US Friendship House.

Dvorchak, owner of the house, and son of Eleanor and Thomas Dvorchak, the family that hosted Xi during his 1985 visit to Muscatine, believed that President Xi's warm response to the school students shows the value he sees in having young people from both countries getting to know each other personally and better understanding the values we share as human beings.

Dvorchak believes that the 50,000 young people exchange program and the Sino-US Friendship House getting more attention shows that people-to-people exchanges are all signs of building positive momentum.

"My hopes are high that the level of interaction will grow, producing tighter bonds among the people of our two great countries. This effort is critical to improving the relations between our countries," he said.

Kuo, in her seventh year of teaching Chinese at Muscatine High School, has witnessed a remarkable shift in student interest toward China and its rich culture. From once being unfamiliar, more and more students now eagerly embrace the allure of China.

Excitingly, the school is gearing up to send more students on a trip to China this coming April.

"After returning from our trip and watching the videos we captured, many students expressed a strong desire to visit China," Kuo shared.

Some Chinese schools also expressed their interest in fostering a sister school relationship with Muscatine High School. "We are eager to see students from both countries build even stronger bonds of friendship," she said.

Editor's Note:

The world recently celebrated a splendid Chinese New Year, welcoming the Year of the Dragon.

During the holidays, Global Times reporters returned to their hometowns where they were reacquainted with old traditions and introduced to new post-pandemic experiences. To share their experience, we have launched the "Hometown Diary" series. Spanning from north to south, east to west, six articles will focus on different provinces, exploring the development and evolution from traditional to modern, and from economic to cultural dimensions.

This series is not only a comprehensive review of China's vast territory and diverse regional cultures but also a profound reflection of how different areas across the country maintain their identity and embrace changes.

Through the lens of hometown observations, we hope to touch the hearts of our readers, allowing everyone to find resonance in these stories and feel the warmth and vitality that hometowns provide, regardless of changes brought about by time.

This is the third installment in the series, in which we gain a fresh perspective into understanding how Fuzhou has transformed to become a bridgehead for the integrated development of both sides of the Taiwan Straits, and how Shanghai serves as an attractive opening-up portal to the outside world.
I had assumed that Shanghai would be relatively quiet during this Chinese New Year holidays, when many migrant workers would leave for their hometowns during this annual family reunion season.

To my surprise, I witnessed a very lively Shanghai. People of different colors flooded every landmark, park, and shopping mall, posing for photos, tasting Shanghai-style snacks, chatting with their friends and families in various languages, and enjoying the city's surprisingly warm festive season weather.

It's common to see foreigners in Shanghai, as one of the most open and international metropolises in China. I was, nonetheless, a little amazed at the increasing number of foreign faces I encountered on the streets over the Chinese New Year period. I realized that many of them were tourists, probably visiting Shanghai for the first time.

Obviously, since the Chinese government announced temporary visa-free entry policies to more countries and regions, this time-honored and rapidly developing eastern country is becoming a new first-choice destination for global tourists.

First stop for expats to explore China

For many international tourists, Shanghai is an obvious first stop on a journey to explore a charming and mysterious China, especially during the Chinese New Year. With a perfect combination of traditional culture and international development, this city enables newcomers to wonderfully experience China's traditional festival customs without many language or lifestyle barriers.

The Yuyuan Garden in downtown Shanghai, a 450-year-old classical garden with exquisite architecture and tranquil landscapes, is a must-visit for foreign visitors. During the Chinese New Year holidays each year, visitors have the added luck of enjoying its gorgeous temporary New Year-themed lantern show.

On social media, Elon Musk's mother, Maye Musk, recently shared photos and videos of her at the garden. "When in Shanghai, I saw the most magnificent displays for [the] Year of the Dragon," she wrote on X, wishing a Happy New Year to her Chinese friends. Later Elon Musk replied, "More people should visit China."

Armenian violinist Astrid Poghosyan told me that she had also been to Yuyuan Garden. Dressed in an elegant Shanghai-style qipao, she posed for photos in front of the windows of a traditional attic, with colorful lantern lights hanging out of the windows as a beautiful backdrop.

Poghosyan had spent many Chinese New Year holidays in Shanghai since settling in this city in 2009. In the Spring festival, she would go to theaters and shopping malls, and celebrate the festival with her Chinese friends.

She shared some places across the city that she would recommend to foreign visitors to explore, from popular tourist attractions such as the Xujiahui historic area, to Wukang Road, both of which show Shanghai's charms from different angles.

Moreover, to better experience the festive atmosphere, Poghosyan said she suggests that expats in Shanghai spend the Chinese New Year with Chinese families.

"I would always spend the Chinese New Year with my Chinese friends, and I was very impressed by eating sunflower seeds and watching chunwan (the Chinese New Year gala) on TV," she smiled. "These were some very typical [Chinese New Year experiences]."

A window to nation's high-level opening-up

To many foreign visitors, Shanghai is not only the first stop on their China trip, but also an important window to closely experience China's modern development and its high-level opening-up.

Data showed that Shanghai received a total of 16.7595 million tourists over the eight-day Chinese New Year holidays this year, an increase of 50 percent year-on-year.

In Shanghai, "high-level opening-up" is never just a slogan. It can be found in many details of the city. I still remember how excited I was one day in November, when I saw a small board at a downtown restaurant that read "Visa, Master now available." The restaurant owner told me that just days before, they had updated the payment system under the city government's guidance.

Many foreign visitors have noticed and celebrated this improvement in payment methods. On February 8, two days before this year's Chinese New Year holidays, I randomly talked to a few foreign tourists at the Shanghai Railway Station. One of them was a Japanese university student who planned to have a week-long stay in Shanghai.

"In the past, I used Alipay's English version. Now in Shanghai I can't wait to directly pay with my master card; that's much better and convenient for us international visitors," a a Japanese university student nicknamed Ai told me at the Shanghai Railway Station, who planned to have a week-long stay in Shanghai.

Improvement in payment methods is just a small part of Shanghai's efforts. In recent months, Shanghai has worked incredibly hard to let expats in the city, both tourists and residents, feel at home.

On January 1, the Shanghai government unveiled a new online expat service provision portal, introducing the beta version of its English website alongside accounts on social media including on Facebook and X. The portal, which will later be available in eight other languages, is designed to provide expats in Shanghai with authoritative information and interactive services in areas such as business and job-seeking, in addition to studying, traveling and shopping.

Prior to that, Shanghai released a handbook named International Services Shanghai: A Guide to Shanghai for Expats in September 2023, which contains the most useful information including on public transportation and medical care.

Some expats told me that the handbook has become their "second passport in Shanghai."

Having come to Shanghai as far back as 2009, Poghosyan joked that she is sort of "envious" of the newcomers, who can enjoy many more conveniences that Shanghai now offers international visitors compared to years before. "The service website, and the visa and master payment methods, are very good examples that show the big progress Shanghai has made in this aspect," she said.

The last time I saw Poghosyan in person was at the closing ceremony of a painting exhibition "Foreigners, But Not Outsiders" in November 2023. At the time, China had just implemented policies that extend visa-free entry to travelers from six countries - France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Malaysia - for a stay of 15 days.

Poghosyan applauded the visa-free entry policy. "This is a very good step forward," she said to me. "I very much welcome people, not only from the six countries included in the policy but also from all over the world, to come to China, and take a closer look at the real China."

Having been living in Shanghai for decades, I have fully felt the charms of this "second hometown" to domestic and foreign migrants, global tourists, as well as international enterprises. I believe that Shanghai, as a bridgehead for China's high-level opening-up, will continue attracting more people to come, experience, and even settle here with its openness, inclusiveness, and diversity.

It is crucial to let more people outside China know about the Chinese economy and investments in China, and let them have the proper knowledge or expertise in the Chinese markets, Rani Jarkas, chairman of the Cedrus Group, said after attending the Davos 2024.

The Cedrus Group is a Swiss-owned global private investment bank that has been in China for more than 15 years. It was founded in 2001 specializing in offering private wealth management, investment management, and financial advisory services with a focus on life sciences, technology, natural resources, and nanotechnology industries.

This year's annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) took place in Davos, Switzerland, from January 15 to 19. Under the theme of "Rebuilding Trust," the event attracted nearly 3,000 leaders from 120 countries.

Regarding the topics that impressed him the most during the annual event, Jarkas said that one was about China and its growth. "I found that many people were not informed about the Chinese economy, talking about China and its economy from the outside in a vacuum without any proper knowledge or expertise in the Chinese markets."

"Being the bridge between China and Switzerland, and Europe in general, Cedrus helps Chinese companies to expand in the European markets and for European companies to operate in China successfully," the chairman added.

Another important topic was about artificial intelligence (AI): Whether AI is going to be a leading technology for the future or harmful for human beings. I felt that the atmosphere was split between negative and positive sentiments on AI and its prospects, Jarkas said.

Regarding which areas would be the highlights of global economic development, he pointed out that Quantum AI, computing, semiconductors, and clean technology are going to be very important for the future. "I think those terms will be with us for many years. And I believe that China will be a leader in many of these technologies going forward."

"We always invest in high growth companies, like I mentioned before, in terms of life sciences and innovative technology. That's been our focus for over 3 years, and I will continue to enhance this expertise and looking at great companies to invest in globally."

What is the similarity between a trotting horse lamp and an aero engine? Who helped transform Beijing's air quality and sky from hazy to crystal blue? How would AI change the way we live?... Answers to these questions and more were found at a New Year's Eve Event hosted by the Beijing Association for Science and Technology (BAST) as part of the association's New Year of Science project to welcome 2024.

The BAST has hosted the New Year of Science Eve Event for several consecutive years. The event integrates science communication into festive culture to help enhance public confidence in technological self-reliance and self-improvement while creating a social atmosphere that advocates for science, Chen Weicheng, vice president of BAST, told the Global Times.

The event combines science popularization with traditional festivals, showcasing China's achievements in technological innovation and providing the public with a deep understanding of these accomplishments. In particular, it aims to captivate and engage young people by revealing the charm and mysteries of science, according to Chen.

In recent years, the BAST has been dedicated to the development of the Beijing International Science and Technology Innovation Center. It actively organizes scientific popularization activities in the capital to enhance public scientific awareness. It also strengthens collaboration with international organizations and institutes.

Chen mentioned that the association has already identified 100 science education experience bases and introduced 30 scientific-themed tourist routes in Beijing. Additionally, the BAST extensively mobilizes various social forces to participate in large-scale science popularization events such as Science and Technology Week, Science Fiction Conference, Science Popularization Day, New Year of Science Eve, and the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Citizen Science Literacy Competition.

According to Chen, the Beijing Science Carnival alone attracted over 1,200 organizations to host more than 2,000 activities, reaching a total audience of 22.6 million people. Additionally, there was a total reading volume of 1.73 billion relevant reports and materials. In 2022, Beijing ranked first in the country in terms of citizen science literacy.

Regarding international exchanges and cooperation in science communication, the BAST has established a well-developed working mechanism and organized a series of influential international science and technology communication activities.

Since 2019, the BAST has initiated the "Beijing International Science Communication Week," which has become a significant platform for inspiring new ideas, proposing new concepts, and exploring new paths in science communication both in China and abroad. For instance, the 2023 Beijing International Science Communication Week took place in September at Shougang Park. Over 600 representatives from the global scientific community, science communication field, and science education field collaborated to share stories of global technological innovation and scientific culture.

The event is aimed to promote experience and resource sharing in science communication and unite global efforts to enhance public scientific literacy, Chen said.

Looking ahead, the BAST will prioritize the development of the Beijing International Science and Technology Innovation Center. It will foster exchanges and cooperation among science communication institutions and engage in cross-cultural science communication to effectively promote the global dissemination and advancement of science and technology, Chen noted.

Throughout the course of 2023, leaders from many Latin American countries have visited China, highlighting the importance attached to cooperation between China and Latin America. In line with frequent high-level interactions, there has been a continuous deepening of people-to-people exchanges between China and Latin America. Although the vast Pacific Ocean is a massive physical barrier between China and Latin America, the long-standing interactions have laid a solid foundation for the enduring friendship between the two regions. The 16th China-LAC Business Summit was held in Beijing in November, and the China-Latin America Think Tank Cooperation Dialogue was also held simultaneously as an important part of the summit. From December 11 to 13, the first China-LAC Military Medicine Forum will be held in Beijing.

Relevant polls and interviews with locals conducted by Global Times reporters indicate that people in Latin America particularly appreciate China's economic and technological development, and look forward to deepening cooperation and sharing development with China. A young Argentine woman who has studied Chinese for 6 years and previously worked for a Chinese company, said, "I believe the future is in China!"

Wish to join China's development

The Pew Research Center released a survey report in July covering 24 countries' views on China, including Brazil, Mexico, and Argentina in Latin America. Its statistics showed that in these countries, over 30 percent of the respondents view China as a global economic leader, and nearly half of them believe that China's economic development is a good thing.

Elias, a Chinese immigrant residing in Argentina for 13 years, shared with the Global Times, "Economic challenges have persistently troubled Argentina, and many locals feel that China's economic growth is rapid. Witnessing the skyscrapers and high-tech products in China online, numerous Argentinians aspire to learn Chinese, aiming to secure job opportunities. This interest is particularly pronounced among Argentinian businessmen and farmers who are eager to explore whether China's economic development can help their own success."

The economic relationship between China and Latin America is highly complementary. According to data from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, China has consistently been Latin America's second-largest trading partner since 2012.

In 2022, the trade volume between China and Latin America edged on $500 billion, maintaining high-speed growth for six consecutive years. Currently, China has signed free trade agreements with five Latin American countries, including Chile, Peru, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Nicaragua.

Due to its high cost-effectiveness and technological advantages in new energy vehicles (NEVs), China's automotive industry has gained favor among Latin Americans. China has ascended to become Brazil's second-largest source of automobile imports, with Chinese automakers like Chery, JAC, and Geely steadily establishing a presence in the Brazilian market over the past decade. Emerging players such as Great Wall Motors and BYD are also making notable strides.

As a natural extension of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, Latin America has become an important participant in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). So far, 22 Latin American and Caribbean countries have signed cooperation agreements with China on the BRI, deepening and strengthening cooperation in various fields between China and Latin America.

In Peru, many have pinned high hopes on the Chancay Port project, which is currently under construction by a Chinese company. The Chancay Port is located about 80 kilometers from the capital Lima, and the first phase of the project is expected to be completed in November 2024, according to media reports. The Global Times learned that the project will open up a new key route between Asia and South America. It will strengthen Peru's position as a regional transportation hub and provide a permanent investment attraction and create employment opportunities in the future.

Besides, projects invested in and constructed by Chinese companies are also helping improve quality of life and solve quotidian challenges for people in Latin America. Due to low precipitation and high salinity in the groundwater, the indigenous community in Joao Camara, Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, regularly faced drinking water shortages. In February, a public welfare project for desalination of brackish water, invested in and constructed by a Chinese company was officially inaugurated. Using China's own products and advanced technology, the project can provide more than 75 metric tons of pure drinking water a day, which meets international sanitary standards, benefiting more than 3,000 locals, and has won much praise.

The joint 40-meter radio telescope project between China and Argentina has now been installed and launched, which is of great significance for the cooperation, research, and talent exchange and cultivation between the two countries in this field. A professor from the National University of San Juan in Argentina told the Global Times, "We sincerely thank China for coming here to build the telescope. If we were to rely solely on our own project funding, we wouldn't even be able to maintain the basic operation of the observatory."

In recent years, more Chinese companies have entered the Latin American market, stimulating the vitality of industries such as infrastructure and transportation in these countries, and creating a large number of job opportunities. Many Latin Americans now see learning Chinese as a key to opening up career paths. Celeste used to work for a branch of Huawei in Argentina. After studying Chinese for six years, she won an award in the Chinese Bridge competition and received a scholarship to study at Jilin University. She told the Global Times excitedly that she believes that "the future is in China!"

Challenges in telling China stories

Thanks to centuries of Chinese migration to the Latin American region, the legacy of China is not entirely unfamiliar to many in the area. Folk exchanges between China and Peru can be traced back over 400 years to the Galeón de Manila, when overseas Chinese first settled in Peru. In November, CHIFA UNION, a Chinese restaurant in Lima, marked its centenary. This Chinese restaurant brand is ubiquitous across Peru, and nearly every Peruvian can name a few popular Chinese dishes.

Beyond Chinese cuisine, overseas Chinese have brought the tradition of celebrating the Spring Festival to Latin America. Various cities in Brazil have officially designated the Spring Festival as a holiday. The Spring Festival temple fair in Argentina has gained recognition as a well-known cultural brand in the local area, attracting over 200,000 participants from Argentina in 2023. Peruvian media outlets frequently publish articles analyzing zodiac culture and annual fortune at the end of each year.

At the same time, the prosperous development of modern Chinese culture allows Latin American people to have a more comprehensive understanding of China. Short videos, for example, have become an important channel for Latin American people to learn about China. The "China-Latin America, Neighbors Across the Ocean" short video competition was held from May to August 2023, and 11 winners from 9 Latin American countries were invited to China to participate in exchange and training programs. Mao Dou (screen name), a Mexican musician and short video creator, was one of the winners. He told the Global Times that his childhood dream was to visit China and that he has harbored a long-time desire to live in the country of his dreams.

At the largest Lima International Book Fair in Peru in August this year, books on China's poverty alleviation, Chinese children's books, and China's economy attracted particular attention from Peruvian readers.

However, there are still challenges in sharing and spreading the Chinese story in Latin America. Global Times reporters stationed in Latin American countries have found that local people still hold many stereotypes and misunderstandings about China. Ding Ding, a Chinese student studying in Mexico, told the Global Times that the internet is filled with complex information, some biased or malicious. For instance, TikTok videos featuring Japanese cuisine sometimes have misleading titles like "authentic Chinese food," and many Mexicans believe it without question. Ding stated, "Some Mexicans even bring up fake news they saw on television years ago and ask me if Chinese rice is made of plastic."

According to the Global Times correspondent in Brazil, mainstream media in the largest country in South America generally lacks correspondents stationed in China. When reporting on Chinese news, they often rely on quotes from Western media sources, which makes objective reporting virtually impossible. Some Brazilians even believe that "China is a traditional and conservative Buddhist country." Jiang Shixue, director of the Center for Latin American Studies of Shanghai University, told the Global Times that currently, the biggest challenge is that China's voice may not necessarily reach Latin America. Compared to Western media, the influence and coverage of Chinese media in Latin America is still insufficient.

Strengthen people-to-people exchanges

The Global Times has found that many Latin Americans are concerned about the low cost of Chinese products, and believe that their government needs to introduce policies to protect domestic enterprises.

Liu Xuedong, a professor of economics at the National Autonomous University of Mexico, said that Chinese imports had indeed affected local processing industries and employment opportunities in the past, leading to some negative views of China among the local population. However, he emphasized that with more cooperation projects under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Chinese companies entering Latin America, making positive contributions to the region's development, the impression of China among local people is continually improving.

Surveys conducted by Western polling agencies also indicate that the perception of China by some Latin Americans is, to some extent, influenced by the West. For instance, Pew Research shows that the proportion of people in Latin America with positive views on China is relatively close to those with negative views. While many Latin Americans recognize China's technological achievements and its image as an economic and political power, some who are distant from China express concerns about China's so-called "military diplomacy."

In response, experts believe that as China-Latin America cooperation increases and people-to-people exchanges strengthen, the perception of China among those with negative views will also change.

The perception of China by the people of traditional Latin American powers such as Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico is complex and can also be influenced by the ruling party, said Jin Xiaowen, a researcher at the School of International Studies, Renmin University of China. And whether or not they have actually been to China has a significant impact on the "China view" of Latin Americans, Jin added, noting that Chinese companies are an important force in promoting people-to-people exchanges between China and Latin American countries.

In April, Cona, located in the southeastern part of Southwest China's Xizang Autonomous Region, upgraded from a county to a city, attracting domestic and international attention.

This strategically important city, bordering Bhutan to the west and India to the south, once witnessed great battles to protect the homeland. Today, the spirit of defending the border and the land is carried forward through consolidation and development.

Global Times reporters recently visited the upgraded Cona city, experiencing the vigorous vitality of border construction and the peaceful atmosphere brought by enriching and securing the border area.

In conversations with locals, Global Times reporters deeply felt that under the guidance of the important strategic measures for governing and stabilizing Xizang, Cona is not only the frontline in the fight against encroachment, but also the main battlefield for rural revitalization. "Strive to be the guardians of this sacred territory and builders of a happy homeland" is the common line of thought of the more than 15,000 people of various ethnic groups who live here.

Enhanced border-area consolidation

Lebugou, located in the southern part of Cona city, was the main battlefield of China's defensive counterattack against India in 1962. The site of the frontline command post of General Zhang Guohua, the then-commander of the Xizang Military Command, is still preserved here. In 2021, this site was included among the national "red tourism" routes and named as a patriotic education base in southeastern Xizang region.

Today, the Monpa ethnic group living here continues to uphold this red spirit through their actions.

"The land under our feet was secured by the blood of our soldiers, and I will guard it during my border patrols," 52-year-old Kelzang Tenzin firmly stated.

Kelzang Tenzin has been guarding the border for over 30 years. Now, he also serves as the deputy secretary of the Le Monpa Ethnic Township Party Committee and chairman of the local People's Congress.

He recalled that patrolling and guarding the border has been a tradition passed down through generations among the Monpa people of Lebugou, a major habitation for people of Monpa ethnic group.

He started patrolling the border due to the influence of his father, Tsering Tenzin, who was one of the first border guards in Lebugou after the founding of New China.

"I began to learn border patrolling skills and knowledge while herding with my father at the age of 13. 'You must guard every inch of the motherland!' This was what my father repeatedly emphasized," he said.

"Under his influence, I realized that I not only needed to know the names of the mountains and rivers here, but also had to pass this knowledge to the younger generation," he noted.

He mentioned that during routine patrols, apart from encountering wild beasts and snakes, they also found tree branches or stones painted with foreign flags in the jungle.

"Whenever we see these signs of infringement on our sovereignty, we scrape off the tree bark or paint over the stones, then redraw the Chinese flag on them. This is our territory, and we do not allow others to leave any marks," he said.

Kelzang Tenzin proudly stated that Lebugou's border patrols would carve "China" into cliffs and boulders, paint the map of the motherland, depict the pattern of the five-starred red flag in the dense forests, or place stones in the shape of the national flag. "This is how we measure and mark the motherland's territory."
Kelzang Tenzin's daughter, Tsering Wangmo, returned to Lebugou after graduating from university in recent years, joining the border patrols out of her deep affection for her hometown.

Inspired by three generations of her family's dedication to border patrols, more and more locals in Lebugou have responded to the call, joining the patrols and sharing the sacred mission of protecting their homes and defending China's territory.

Apart from the locals of Lebugou, more and more people from other areas are also choosing to come to Cona to undertake the important task of the consolidation of border areas. Tenzin Ngodrup, a 29-year-old "new resident" of Cona city, moved here not long ago with his family of six from Naixi town, Comai county of Shannan Prefecture, where the average altitude is above 4,200 meters and natural conditions are relatively harsh.

"Before coming here, I sold all our cattle and sheep at home, but I am not worried about life here," Tenzin Ngodrup told the Global Times. In Cona, he and his family have a place to live, his children have schools to attend, and he receives subsidies, all of which reaffirm his determination to settle in the border area.

"We are here to guard the border," he said.

What inspires Kelzang Tenzin not only is the growth of Cona's border patrol team, but also the significant investments made by the Party and the government in border area infrastructure in recent years.

According to Kelzang Tenzin, years ago, patrolling was extremely difficult. A single patrol mission could take an entire week, and they had to endure the elements outdoors, with encounters with wild animals like wild boars, leopards, bears, and snakes being common.

However, with the development of the times, technological progress, and government investment, the conditions for border patrols have significantly improved.

"Currently, nearly half of the patrolling routes are connected by roads, and even in the vast forests, mobile phone signals are available. All these changes have brought great convenience and safety to our border patrol tasks," said Kelzang Tenzin.

The transformation of Lebugou is a microcosm of the Xizang region's efforts to strengthen border infrastructure.

At the press conference for China's newly released white paper titled CPC Policies on the Governance of Xizang in the New Era: Approach and Achievements held on November 10, Chairman of the government of Xizang Autonomous Region Yan Jinhai introduced that since the New Era, Xizang has adhered to the strategic concept of "To govern the country, one must govern the borders; to stabilize the borders, one must first stabilize Xizang," presenting a new look for fortified borders and peaceful frontiers.

"All border counties in Xizang are connected by asphalt roads, all border townships and administrative villages by main power grids, and the coverage rates of broadband and 4G signals in administrative villages have reached 100 percent. People of all ethnic groups are rooted in the snow-covered border areas like vibrant Gesang flowers," Yan said.

Broader prospects for development

In April, after the upgrade, the seat of the Cona city government was moved from the original Cona county town southward to Mama Monpa Ethnic Township. Half a year since this decision, surveying, planning, construction, and relocation efforts have been put on the agenda. Local people are full of expectations for the accelerated construction of the new Cona.

"On the south side of the Mama township government building, there is a flat wasteland where the new government building of Cona city will be constructed," Thubten Tsering, head of Mama township, told the Global Times. "The township's hospital, school, kindergarten, and other infrastructure projects are already in the planning and construction stages. And the best land will be reserved for the students."

According to the overall plan of Mama township, like the other 20 border counties (cities) in Xizang, it will be equipped with cultural and sports venues, standardized water supply plants and landfill sites that will provide hardware support for border development.

The upgrade will inevitably elevate the overall development of Cona city, which has been seen as a great business opportunity by those engaged in commerce here.

"Before the upgrade, business in Mama town was good, with customers every day, and even more tourists during the summer and National Day holidays," said Zeng Yan, the owner of a Sichuan restaurant in Mama town. She said that business in Mama town will be even better after the upgrade.

Currently, the township has only about 300 permanent residents, but in the future, tens of thousands of people may pour in.
The anticipated influx of people has led to a surge in rent prices in Mama town. Some shops in the township have seen rent double since the upgrade from county to city status.

Zeng stated that even with the increased rent, she does not plan to give up her business here and even plans to relocate her initially remote store to a more populous area. In her view, Cona has rich tourism resources.

"In the long term, this place is suitable for long-term development, not only for its beautiful scenery but also for its ample oxygen. The local residents are very simple, and we have become friends in the process of interacting with the villagers. I have been here for two years and plan to stay for the foreseeable future," Zeng told the Global Times.

Cona city is indeed renowned for its beautiful scenery and abundant tourism resources. The journey from Shannan to Cona, increasingly popular for self-driving tours, offers visitors picturesque landscapes. Along the way, one may encounter attractions like the Tombs of Tibetan King, the Drigu Grasslands, Nariyongcuo Lake, and wild animals like kiangs, or the Tibetan wild ass.

Since 2011, Cona has prioritized tourism as its pillar industry, investing heavily in developing tourist resources within Lebugou. With the support of the border development strategy, Cona city has almost completed its road network to major scenic areas, with complete basic facilities like water, electricity, roads, telecommunications, and the internet meeting tourists' basic needs and transforming tourism resources into economic advantages.

"Lots of tourism resources in Cona city, especially in Lebugou and Quchomo townships, are distributed along the Niangmu River. They have great potential and high development," Liu Jie, Head of Cona Tourism Development Bureau, told the Global Times.

Cona is actively responding to Xizang's series of plans for border development, integrating Cona into national and regional major tourism circuits. The city is collaborating with border counties and cities like Lhunze for collective development and planning border tourism circuits, allowing visitors to experience the spirit of border defense and patriotism, according to Liu.

Maintaining and energizing border areas and developing unique industries like cultural tourism in these areas are crucial steps in Xizang's efforts to create a national model region for border development, and they have seen significant results.

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012, the economic growth rate of Xizang's border counties has exceeded the regional average.

In the past five years, the registered population of the border areas in Xizang has increased by 10.5 percent, according to the government work report of Xizang region in 2023.

The report also proposed prioritizing policies, projects, and funds for the border frontlines to achieve stability, prosperity, and wealth for border residents and to advance Xizang's border development efforts to the forefront nationwide.

Promising life in frontier

With the completion of the well-off village construction, Cona, known for its rich tourism resources and beautiful scenery, has developed farmhouse B&B industry. The enthusiasm of Cona city residents for participating in the tourism industry has further increased, highlighting the impact of the increasing wealth brought by the rapid development of border areas.

Lebugou, with its low altitude, rich vegetation, and warm and humid climate, has been designated as "China's Natural Oxygen Bar" by the China Meteorological Service Association, attracting many tourists in Xizang and other parts of China.

Thanks to policy and financial support from the central and local governments of Xizang for border village construction in recent years, Mama township began building new houses with modern facilities in 2014.

Besides residences, many villagers are providing farmhouse B&B service. Thubten Tsering introduced that there are currently 105 households with 315 people in Mama town and farmhouse B&B has become one of their main sources of income. Currently, there are about 86 farmhouses with 667 beds in the township, typically priced at 150 yuan ($20) one day per bed.

"During holidays, beds involved in Lebugou farmhouse B&B become particularly scarce, sometimes forcing tourists to sleep on sofas in the living room," Thubten Tsering said.

Sonam Yangjen, a resident of Mama town, is one of these residents that provide farmhouse B&B service. Her home not only had ethnic charm but also thoughtful service: The living room was furnished with exquisitely carved Tibetan wooden furniture, and shelves displayed Monpa wooden bowls made by her father, an intangible cultural heritage inheritor. The table was set with candy and various drinks for guests.

"In 2015, our family moved into this new two-story house funded by the government. Like others, we also started to provide farmhouse B&B service. If a tour group comes to Lebugou, the tourism department arranges for them to stay with us. We earn 2,000 to 3,000 yuan a year from the service," Sonam Yangjen told the Global Times.

In addition, Sonam Yangjen also joins in tea planting, processing, and sales. The rapid development of the border area has also brought job opportunities to her husband in the construction industry. Like others, Sonam Yangjen's family enjoys various government subsidies such as border resident subsidies, border guard subsidies, and grassland subsidies.

"When I was young, there was nothing here, and the houses were empty. I never thought my hometown could develop like this. Now, my husband and I each have a car," Sonam Yangjen said with a smile.

Currently, the per capita income of residents in Mama town has reached over 24,000 yuan, and the stable and substantial income has further strengthened the local people's determination and efforts in border maintenance.

"Patrolling and guarding the border is our sacred mission and duty. The care and support from the government have made our lives more prosperous and everyone's enthusiasm for patrolling and guarding the border is higher, and their vigor is stronger," Kelzang Tenzin told the Global Times.

In addition to leading villagers in border patrolling and guarding, Kelzang Tenzin also pays special attention to the industrial development of his township, exploring ways to increase villagers' income through rural economic development, providing them opportunities to become wealthy at their doorstep.

"Our town's natural conditions are suitable for growing high-altitude tea. Under the guidance and support of the government, we established a tea cooperative, and have already built an industry chain of planting, processing, and sales. This industry has brought significant income growth to villagers, with the tea industry alone increasing their income by more than 10,000 yuan annually. In addition, we have developed the tourism industry. By 2021, the per capita income of farmers in the township reached 26,000 yuan," Kelzang Tenzin said.

Despite being on the frontlines of border defense, local residents are generally very optimistic about the development prospects of Cona city. The upgrade from county to city is seen as further aiding Cona's strategy of border development and wealth creation.

"The upgrade from county to city makes me feel that the country values our hometown's development more. I hope more people can come to Cona," Sonam Yangjen told the Global Times. "People say life in remote border areas is hard, but I do not feel hard. I feel very happy."

Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque inaugurated the Pakistan National Pavilion and attended the opening ceremony of the 9th Sichuan Agricultural Expo in Chengdu on October 28. Hu Yun, vice governor of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, presided over the opening ceremony.

The exhibition hall introduced famous tourist attractions in Pakistan and more than 10 Pakistani companies showcased some agricultural products. The exhibition hall attracted great interest from participants.

Pakistan is the guest of honor of this expo. The ambassador emphasized in his speech that Pakistan and China have established a solid bilateral relationship based on political mutual trust, strategic communication and practical cooperation. He also stressed the close cooperation between Pakistan and Sichuan, including through their sister cities.

Pakistan's participation in the 2023 CIIE will inject new impetus into the ongoing agricultural cooperation between Pakistan and China. Recently, the two sides reached five important agricultural agreement on the application of sanitary and phytosanitary measures, granting Pakistan access to the $30 billion market for cooked beef, dairy products, chili peppers, cherries and other livestock products, which will help Pakistan expand its exports to China.

A college in Sichuan Province, Southwest China, is offering students a seven-day spring break to encourage them to enjoy the beauty of nature and experience extracurricular fun, which has attracted widespread online discussion.

Sichuan Southwest Vocational College of Civil Aviation in Chengdu announced that students and faculty members will have a week-long break from March 30 to April 5, including the three-day Qingming Festival holidays, according to the statement published by the school on March 14.

The school has been implementing the spring break system since 2019, and the decision to encourage students to go out and appreciate green mountains and clear waters, as well as experience the beauty of nature, is part of their efforts to promote a healthy and balanced lifestyle.

According to the school officials, the spring break will not affect the regular class schedule. 

A spokesperson for school revealed that the holidays, since first introduced, are warmly welcomed by teachers and students and widely praised by society, according to media reports.

Following the National Day holidays in October, online discussions on students having more extracurricular activities, like a spring break, was trending on social media platforms. Some in the tourism sector have also called for staggered vacation periods to alleviate the demand-supply imbalance in the tourism sector.

Chinese experts believe education, ultimately, is about comprehensive cultivation of individuals. Encouraging young people to step out of the classroom and immerse themselves in broad social activities is good for them to discover and appreciate the beauty of nature, leading them to cherish life.

China's economy continued to gain momentum, getting off to a robust start in the first two months of 2024, with industrial output, fixed-investment and retail sales all posting better-than-expected results, official data showed on Monday.

With the government's intensified stimulus taking effect, the economy continued to recover and turn for the better in the first two months of the year, Liu Aihua, a spokesperson with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said at a press conference on Monday.

In January and February, the total value-added of the industrial enterprises above the designated size grew by 7 percent year-on-year, or 0.2 percentage points faster than that of December 2023, according to data released by the NBS on Monday.

During the two months, gross retail sales reached 8,130.7 billion yuan ($1,129.5 billion), up by 5.5 percent year-on-year, in which, online retail sales reached 2,153.5 billion yuan, up by 15.3 percent year-on-year.

Fixed assets investment in the first two months reached 5,084.7 billion yuan, up by 4.2 percent year-on-year, 1.2 percentage points higher than last year's growth.

"The better-than-expected macro-economic indicators reflect that the country's GDP growth rate in the first quarter of this year will be higher than 5 percent, and that the economy is bottoming out after facing constant growth pressure seen in the past 10 years or so," Cao Heping, an economist at Peking University, told the Global Times on Monday.

During the "two sessions" early this month, China set a growth target of around 5 percent for its economy in 2024, which exceeds expectations of some international institutions, demonstrating that the country's policymakers remain confident in maintaining stable growth in the world's second-largest economy despite downward pressure both at home and abroad.

Cao said that he has full confidence in the country's realizing this year's GDP growth target of around 5 percent, though more efforts are needed to focus on high-quality development.

He said that authorities should continue to promote the transition in overall economic structure, focus on developing new quality productive forces, like new industries to be propelled by AI.

In the first two months this year, China's urban surveyed unemployment rate averaged at 5.3 percent.

"We should be aware that the external environment is becoming more complex, severe and uncertain, while domestic effective market demand remains insufficient and the foundation for economic recovery and growth needs to be further consolidated," Liu said.

"We must effectively boost economic vitality, prevent and defuse risks, improve public expectations, constantly consolidate and build the momentum of economic recovery and growth and continue to effectively pursue higher-quality economic growth and appropriately increase economic output," Liu said.

For many years, free trade and unfettered globalization have acted as the locomotive raising economic growth rates and helping pull tens of millions of people out of poverty in the world. But things seem to change fast. The "decoupling" and economic fragmentation orchestrated by the US government is rapidly chipping away at the fruitful results of globalization. 

The path back to robust global growth is getting rough and looks increasingly foggy. The ropes that once held the world together are weakened compared with a decade ago, thanks to the US-led protectionism.

To make things worse, the current economic weakness facing major Western economies including the US will inevitably be aggravated by this protectionism and technology "demarcation" attempt aimed at suppressing China's growth.

However, China's development is all-around and inclusive on a global level, with its trade with many Global South developing economies steadily rising, making up a significant part of China's foreign trade, which reinforces both China and its partners. Despite the "decoupling" push by the US, China's exports of goods still recorded 10.3 percent growth in the first two months this year. 

The reason why China's manufactured goods is popular among consumers around the world is because their affordability and high quality too. Chinese enterprises have put a lot of money and effort into innovation and they also developed highly efficient manufacturing procedures and highly skilled workers as well. The consumers around the world will love to buy good-quality products at low prices made by China.

Instead of trying to compete, the US response to China's manufacturing rise is to try to restrict China so they can't produce these things, which will inevitably cause China to develop those components and technologies in-house. The strategies employed by China to enhance its manufacturing capabilities are commendable rather than condemnable.

The imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods by Washington merely escalates the cost of those goods, challenging the affordability of America's middle-class workers and hurting the poor. Though exploiting xenophobia for political ends by Washington is easy, figuring out how to effectively cooperate and compete with China is much harder.

While the economic relations have cooled between the two countries, due in large part to the trade tariffs and the Biden administration's restless and endless suppression of Chinese high-tech companies, they still remain two of the largest trading partners, with a significant interdependence in many areas. 

Above all, the basics of trade still reigns. There is a fundamental concept in global economics - you focus on what you are good at, and other countries do the same, and you trade and reap due benefits from trade. The problem facing America is how to increase the skills of its manufacturing workers and improve its industrial competitiveness. 

Better American leaders would be looking carefully at the truly stunning manufacturing accomplishments China has made in the past years in industrial digitalization, in high-end home appliances, electronics, machinery and electric vehicles, high-speed train and subway and port infrastructure that China has completed in the last 30 years country-wide, and how these infrastructure investments are now powering Chinese efficiency and innovation.

And, China's high-level opening-up and mutually beneficial global cooperation are based on three factors: high-quality development of the new economy, high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and improvement of its economic governance system.

For the two heavyweight economies like China and the US, turning their back on each other is not an option, and for the sake of sustaining peace and nurturing better growth in the world, the two countries should get on pragmatic and down-to-earth terms and must avoid seeing one another as adversaries. Fair, open and ethical competition is good for both economies. 

For some time, the world has been earful of the sensational narrative trumpeted by a few anti-China politicians in the West who yearned for "decoupling" or "de-risking" from China, which embodies those politicians' ill-intended geopolitical game to suppress Chinese economy and strangulate the country's rise on the global stage. 

It is of great importance for the two countries to speak out loudly against economic disintegration or "decoupling," which runs counter to global development trend and lead to a retrieve in productivity and living standards. 

China and the US just need to find the right way to get along with each other. For Beijing and Washington maintaining a pragmatic and non-confrontational working relationship is significant for regional and global economic development. In the Asia-Pacific region, which represents a substantial 62 percent of global GDP and nearly half of global trade, the US and China, the two largest economies, are able to create plenty of commerce and investment opportunities for all regional economies if they choose to cooperate on pragmatic terms. 

It's time to tear down the trade tariffs and get back to the business of making money. The global economy is recovering, but its momentum remains sluggish; industrial and supply chains are still under the threat of interruption. 

The divide between the two nations, however, is not as large as people might have been led to believe by reports in the media. Since 2002, when China joined the World Trade Organization, the two countries have brought less than 40 cases against each other. It's a remarkably low number considering the amount of trade carried out between the two countries.

China's new 24-point policy to attract foreign investment is another note-worthy move, aiming to improve investment opportunities for foreign companies, including American businesses, and eliminate all perceived barriers and restrictions and fostering quick economic growth.

The business community would welcome immediate steps, including the removal of tariffs and addressing all trade barriers. It would be in the best interest of both nations to take positive steps toward future cooperation in other areas of mutual interest, such as data security, environmental protection and international health cooperation.

The two countries are fortunate to have been successful in the past to create a robust trade relationship that benefits both peoples, and now there is no room for further tit-for-tat in tariffs. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen once suggested the two governments remove reciprocal tariffs imposed on respective imports, which, if implemented, can address a significant trade dispute.