From Oct 11 to Oct 18, 118 students and teachers from Lincoln High School of Tacoma City, US, visited Fuzhou, Chengdu and Beijing at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Lin Huiqing, China’s vice-minister of education, welcomed the delegation saying that Sino-US friendship is rooted in the general public and the hope lies in young people.

Lin said she hoped that students from Lincoln High School will tell people around them what they have seen and express their feelings in China to enable more American people to know about China.

She welcomes more students come to China for further study and become envoys of friendship to promote the Sino-US relationship.

Patrick Erwin, president of Lincoln High School, expressed gratitude for Xi’s invitation and indicated that this visit has changed the students’ lives because they have a new and greater understanding of China and have developed a deep friendship with Chinese students.

Lincoln High School will also strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Chinese universities to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and American young people, Erwin said.

During President Xi's state visit to the US in September 2015, he went to Lincoln High School and invited 100 students to China for a visit.