BEIJING, Dec. 26 (Xinhua) -- The year 2019 has witnessed strengthened people-to-people exchanges between China and other countries. Those grassroot exchanges are full of warm touching little stories. Xinhua has selected some of them to share with you.

Chinese and Indian Bharatanatyam lovers dance in Beijing, Aug. 12, 2019. (Xinhua/Ma Zheng)

These children are among the youngest generation of Bharatanatyam lovers in China, who share an enduring passion for this Indian classical dance. Their devotion helps more Chinese people appreciate Bharatanatyam and bridges the cultures of China and India. Read our feature story: Dance your dance -- Chinese, Indian Bharatanatyam lovers bridge cultures. xhne.ws/k9jUT

U.S.-born male giant panda Bei Bei is seen at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington D.C. on Nov. 11, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

It is time to say goodbye. A week-long farewell party was held for the U.S.-born male giant panda Bei Bei, who would soon leave the Smithsonian's National Zoo in the United States to China.

While it highlights Bei Bei and his days in the United States, the party aims to wish him the best for starting a new chapter in his life in China, epitomizing an enduring China-U.S. friendship and fruitful collaboration. xhne.ws/2Q3NS

Then Chinese Premier Li Peng meets with Jack Perry, then chairman of the London Export Corporation (LEC) of Britain, in Beijing Sept. 25, 1992. (Xinhua photo/Liu Shaoshan)

In 1972, 24-year-old Stephen landed in Shanghai on his first trip to China, during which his father and he helped seal the first trade deal between America and China on selling U.S. products including polyester, agricultural chemicals and cotton. Read a British family's unfading "icebreaking" spirit to help bond China, West. xhne.ws/fLBoT

A statue of the Chinese sea goddess Mazu departs her temple in Meizhou Island of Putian, southeast China's Fujian Province, on Nov. 13, 2019. (Xinhua/Wei Peiquan)

Amid camera flash light and the gaze by people, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner departed from Xiamen, a coastal city of southeast China's Fujian Province on Thursday morning.

Aboard the flight was a special passenger -- a statue of the goddess Mazu, who was on her first trip to Thailand at the invitation of local believers. Read the story: Chinese sea goddess Mazu "visits" Bangkok for cultural exchanges. xhne.ws/x4cMK

Children playing in a school in Ban Xor, in the outskirts of Vientiane, capital of Laos on Oct. 24, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhang Jianhua)

In 5 years, villagers of Shibadong in central China saw their average annual income grow from less than 240 U.S. dollars to over 1700 dollars. They are happy to share their experience with friends in Laos and other parts of the world. Read our story: Chinese, Lao villagers share dream of eliminating poverty.