Xi's Stories | Two remarks trace the story of China-US exchanges

During President Xi Jinping's state visit to the US from September 23 to 25, he delivered two remarks that were, in one way or another, about how "reviewing the past gives us new perspectives."

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses a welcome ceremony held by US President Donald Trump at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Sept. 24, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

His remarks were addressed not only to the peoples of China and the US, but to people around the world.

"Reviewing the past" meant looking back on more than 200 years of China-US trade history, the joint fight against Japanese aggression during World War II over 80 years ago, and the ice-breaking Ping-Pong Diplomacy more than 50 years ago.

"Giving new perspectives" meant clarifying the way forward and demonstrating the resolve to pursue a "new approach for major countries to get along with each other," even amid continuing turbulence.

President Xi delivered his first remarks at the White House arrival ceremony hosted by US President Donald Trump on the morning of September 24.

He walked calmly to the podium and laid out the deeper purpose of his visit: "I am visiting the United States at President Trump's invitation to carry on our friendship, expand cooperation, and promote the well-being of both our peoples."

On China-US relations, China has consistently emphasized its responsibility as a major country. Concise as they were, Xi's remarks offered profound answers to questions of history, the world and the people.

"China-US cooperation may not solve every problem in the world. But, without our cooperation, it would be hard to solve many of the world's problems," Xi said.

He also pointed out that "We do not need to avoid mentioning competition, but our competition should be a healthy one and should be kept within bounds. It should be a race of catching up with one another, not a wrestle in which one either wins or loses."

In these remarks, Xi offered an uncertain world a rare measure of certainty.

Chinese President Xi Jinping addresses a welcome banquet at the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States, Sept. 24, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

That evening, US President Trump hosted a state dinner at the White House, where President Xi delivered his second remarks.

The two presidents looked back on the long history of exchanges between the Chinese and American peoples, underscoring the importance of people-to-people ties.

Xi recalled how the two peoples stood shoulder to shoulder in the fight against Japanese militarist aggression more than 80 years ago and how Ping-Pong Diplomacy reopened the door to bilateral exchanges more than half a century ago.

He also recounted the story of American Ronald Sakolsky, who supported Chinese desert-control worker Yin Yuzhen's tree-planting efforts more than 20 years ago, calling it a shining example of friendly exchanges between the two peoples.

Ronald Sakolsky (R) sniffs a sapling after planting it with Yin Yuzhen in the Maowusu Sandy Land in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Aug. 24, 2026. (Photo: Xinhua)

"Exchanges have helped promote heart-to-heart communication between our peoples and cemented public support for China-US friendship and cooperation," Xi said.

Trump, meanwhile, looked back on the long history of US-China exchanges, pointing to early commercial ties and the exchange of "goods, knowledge, customs and ideas."

"As the leaders of our two nations, President Xi and I both understand that we represent different systems, but the ties between our people endure, and we've never gotten along better," Trump said.

Nation-to-nation relations, at their core, are people-to-people relations.

The course of China-US relations is shaped not only by negotiations at the table, but also by the hopes and aspirations of millions of people. As Xi said, "The hope of the China-US relationship lies in our people, and its future lies with the young."

And new steps are being taken to carry that friendship forward.

In his morning remarks, President Xi said, "I am glad to announce an invitation for 100,000 young Americans to visit China for exchanges and study in the coming five years."

It is a commitment to the future.

(Compiled by Sun Tianren and Xu Zheqi; Proofread by Chen Lidan; Original story from People's Daily)