China and the United States need more "Gulingyuan", "Flying Tigers" and "Secos"

China News Service, Beijing, September 22. Title: China and the United States need more "Gulingyuan", "Flying Tigers" and "Secos"

China News Service reporter Zeng Yue

Planting two green plants in an American home, with the American and Chinese flags on both sides - not long after revisiting China, American friend "Saikas" (real name Ronald Sakolsky) fulfilled the promise he made during his stay in China. "I want to show my neighbors that we can build a bridge," he said.

For more than a century, from "Gulingyuan", "Flying Tigers" to "Secaus", stories of the acquaintance and interaction between the Chinese and American people have been integrated into the common memory, confirming the power of building bridges and paving the way for people-to-people friendship.

People-to-people friendship is rooted in the history of exchanges between the Chinese and American people.

More than a hundred years ago, Guling in Fujian Province was an exotic hometown that generations of Americans, including the Gardner family, were deeply attached to. Later generations visited several times to trace their roots, writing a touching chapter for the "Guling Love"; during the Anti-Japanese War, a large number of young American pilots traveled across the country. Chongyang fought side by side with the Chinese military and civilians and forged a deep friendship in the joint fight against fascist aggression; 55 years ago, "ping pong diplomacy" kicked off the historical prelude to the improvement and development of Sino-US relations by "turning the small ball into the big ball"...

From the depths of history, the friendly exchanges between the Chinese and American people have never been interrupted. Sincerity and goodwill have crossed mountains and seas time and time again, becoming the link connecting the two countries.

The relationship between countries lies in the affinity between people. These heart-to-heart stories bear witness to the two-way journey between the Chinese and American peoples to enhance understanding and seek common ground while shelving differences while respecting each other.

People-to-people friendship is injecting inexhaustible impetus into Sino-US relations.

To this day, the friendly friendship between China and the United States has been passed down from generation to generation and continues to flourish. Generations of old friends have kept each other company, making the friendship between the two countries even stronger over time. At the same time, the baton of friendship is also passed to new friends.

Since China proposed the initiative of “inviting 50,000 American teenagers to come to China for exchange and study in five years” in November 2023, more than 50,000 American teenagers have visited China. More and more young figures are walking into the streets and fields, and getting to know a real, three-dimensional and comprehensive China through personal experience.

At present, the forms of people-to-people exchanges are more diverse. From the "digital natives" on both sides of the Pacific "mingling" on social platforms, to the American Internet celebrity "Hyperthyroid Brother"'s live broadcast in China that became popular on the Internet, and "becoming Chinese" starting a Chinese-style life craze in the United States, true feelings are becoming a common language that transcends cognitive barriers and cultural barriers.

When the people of the two countries approach each other with curiosity and goodwill, the mutual trust and understanding between China and the United States gain more concrete support in every interaction, providing solid strength for the ship of China-U.S. relations to weather the storms and move forward smoothly.

People-to-people friendship is the source of stable and long-term relations between China and the United States.

“If a woman living in the desert of China can meet an ordinary American history teacher, and the two of us can create a forest together, what else is impossible?”

"Saikas"'s words illustrate the value of people-to-people exchanges: it is in the vivid encounters and spiritual resonance that the Chinese and American people know each other, work together to create more possibilities, and promote the stability and long-term development of relations between the two countries.

The hope of Sino-US relations lies in the people, the foundation lies in the people, and the future lies in the youth.

At the invitation of US President Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the United States from September 23 to 25. On the eve of this visit, Xi Jinping replied to a letter to young students from 10 universities in the United States, urging young people from both countries to "strive to become the inheritors, defenders and developers of Sino-US friendly cooperation."

Looking to the future, China and the United States need more "Gulingyuan", "Flying Tigers" and "Secos". When the "Guling Story" brings about new love, when the "Flying Tiger Spirit" is passed down from generation to generation, when the story of "Saikos" continues to arouse echoes, the trickle of Sino-US people-to-people friendship will eventually converge into a powerful force to promote the development of Sino-US relations and the world.