President Xi Jinping’s reply letter deeply inspired Australian young students and educational circles

Xinhua News Agency, Adelaide, Australia, November 6. Title: Let the tree of China-Australia friendship become more leafy - President Xi Jinping's reply letter deeply inspired young Australian students and educational circles

Xinhua News Agency reporters Qi Zijian, Xue Yanwen and Wang Jialin

It's spring in the Southern Hemisphere at this time. A warm letter came across the ocean. On October 28, President Xi Jinping replied to 110 young students in Australia, encouraging them to continue to actively participate in the cause of China-Australia friendship.

President Xi Jinping said in his reply letter that I am very pleased to learn that you came to China not long ago to participate in the "China-Australia Youth (College Students) Rowing and Dragon Boating Friendly Race", where you competed and had in-depth exchanges with Chinese university students, established a cross-border friendship, and left you with wonderful memories.

The sincere and cordial message deeply inspired young Australian students and educational professionals. "This letter has special meaning to us" "We will share our trip to China with more people in the future" "We look forward to the bond of friendship between the two countries being tightened"... Australian teachers and students said in interviews with Xinhua News Agency reporters that they are willing to be the inheritors of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries and work together to write a new chapter of China-Australia friendship.

In July 2025, when President Xi Jinping met in Beijing with Australian Prime Minister Albanese, who was visiting China, he said that China "welcomes more Australian people from all walks of life to come to China and is willing to invite more Australian young people to come to China for exchanges and study, so that the tree of China-Australia friendship will become more prosperous."

In September this year, more than a hundred teachers and students from six Australian universities including the University of Sydney, the University of Adelaide, and the University of New South Wales actively responded to President Xi Jinping’s initiative and embarked on a trip to China. They participated in the "China-Australia Youth (College Students) Rowing and Dragon Boating Friendly Race" in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, and had in-depth exchanges with young students from Chinese universities such as Nanjing University and Tongji University.

Recently, young Australian students visiting China jointly wrote to President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Albanese, introducing their visits and exchange experiences in China, expressing their admiration for China's long history, culture, and scientific and technological innovation capabilities, and their positive desire to convey China-Australia friendship and enhance mutual understanding.

On November 6, in Adelaide, President Xi Jinping’s reply letter was delivered to Australian young student representatives.

"What a surprise. President Xi Jinping has replied to our letter!" University of Adelaide student representative Daniel Wiersema excitedly told reporters at the site where the reply was delivered. "This trip to China is a precious exchange opportunity. We wrote to President Xi Jinping just to express our gratitude and to express our sincere expectations for the friendship between Australia and China."

Jason Slater, director of sports development in the Department of Sports and Fitness at the University of Adelaide, said: "When I communicated with the students, I found that everyone was deeply impressed by the wonderful trip to China and told their own experiences. The students' feelings and thoughts were finally compiled into a letter full of stories and friendship, which was sent to the leaders of the two countries."

Slater said that President Xi Jinping's reply was "a very important encouragement". Many young students who participated in the exchange visit to China have a wish - they hope to have the opportunity to study in China in the future, and they also look forward to becoming connected with China in their career development.

"I am very touched that President Xi Jinping took time out of his busy schedule to reply to our letter." Elise Courtney, a student at the University of New South Wales, told reporters in Sydney. She also showed a team uniform to reporters: "After the game in China, we exchanged team uniforms with our Chinese partners. This piece of clothing is very valuable and I cherish it very much."

The students said in the letter that this trip not only felt the vitality of China's modern cities, but also appreciated the profound historical and cultural heritage of the ancient civilization. "China's long history and culture are full of charm, and this trip to China is amazing." said Itzhak Nelson, a student at the University of Adelaide.

In his reply letter, President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Australia have a long history of friendly exchanges and the future of bilateral relations lies with young people. I hope you will continue to actively participate in the cause of China-Australia friendship, be the inheritors of China-Australia friendship and cooperation, and let the China-Australia friendship be passed down from generation to generation and everlasting.

Feldhoff, a student at the University of Adelaide, felt deeply about “passing on the friendship between China and Australia”: “My friends and I hope that we can become the inheritors of the friendship between the two countries in the future.”

Li Honor, executive vice-president of the University of Queensland, told reporters that direct exchanges between young people from the two countries can enhance understanding and cultivate friendship. He believes that President Xi Jinping’s reply letter will encourage more Australian universities to actively participate and continuously deepen exchanges and cooperation with China.

President Xi Jinping's reply letter brings a strong sense of spring, inspiring young Australian students and educational professionals to continue sailing for the cause of friendship between the China-Australia people and gather the power of youth.