Curated News
By: NewsRamp Editorial Staff
September 23, 2026
American Students Receive Personal Reply from President Xi After China Exchange
TLDR
- American students gain a unique edge by building direct connections with Chinese peers and leaders through the fully funded Future Makers exchange program.
- The Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation funded a seven-day China tour for 170 students, featuring cultural visits, tech site tours, and a letter exchange with President Xi.
- The exchange fosters lasting friendships between American and Chinese youth, planting a symbolic forest and nurturing cross-cultural harmony for a more peaceful tomorrow.
- Nearly 100 American students wrote to President Xi Jinping after a week in China, and he replied personally, encouraging them to be ambassadors of friendship.
Impact - Why it Matters
This news matters because it highlights the critical role of youth exchanges in bridging divides between the U.S. and China, two global powers whose relationship shapes international stability and economic prosperity. As political tensions often dominate headlines, these personal connections remind us that shared human experiences can transcend differences. The students' firsthand encounters with Chinese culture, technology, and peers challenge stereotypes and build empathy, laying a foundation for more constructive dialogue. Moreover, the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation's investment in such programs demonstrates how private philanthropy can complement diplomatic efforts. By empowering young people to become ambassadors of friendship, these initiatives cultivate a generation of leaders committed to cooperation. In a world increasingly defined by competition, fostering mutual understanding is not just idealistic—it is essential for peace and progress.
Summary
Nearly 100 American college students from 10 universities received a personal reply from President Xi Jinping after writing to him about their transformative week-long exchange program in China. The students, participants in the Future Makers 2026 China-U.S. Youth Tour for a Shared Asia-Pacific Future, shared how the experience reshaped their understanding of both nations and expressed hope to serve as "ambassadors of friendship across the Pacific." President Xi replied on September 21, encouraging young people from both countries to carry forward friendship and work toward a better shared future, reinforcing the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation's belief in the power of youth exchanges to foster lasting people-to-people ties.
The program, organized by the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and the Beijing NGO Network for International Exchanges, brought together 170 young people from China and the United States from September 1–7 for cultural exploration, direct dialogue, and technology visits across Jinan, Qufu, and Beijing. Students from institutions including American University, Harvard, Columbia, and UC Davis engaged in candid conversations at Tsinghua University and explored Confucian concepts of "harmony in diversity" in Qufu. They also visited Beijing E-Town Robot World, the Beijing High-Level Autonomous Driving Demonstration Area, and the Xiaomi Auto Factory, gaining firsthand insights into humanoid robotics, autonomous driving, and advanced manufacturing. A highlight was the establishment of the "Forest for Tomorrow" at Yanqi Lake, where students planted white-bark pine trees as a symbol of enduring friendship.
Mr. Daryl Ng, Director of the Ng Teng Fong Charitable Foundation and Chairman of Sino Group, joined participants on a visit to the Temple of Heaven and praised their curiosity about Chinese culture. Inspired by President Xi's message, he affirmed the Foundation's commitment to supporting international youth exchanges and leveraging Hong Kong's role as a 'super-connector' to strengthen global ties. The Foundation fully funded the program for all American participants, enabling students from diverse backgrounds to experience China firsthand. This initiative underscores the importance of direct people-to-people connections in building mutual understanding between the U.S. and China, especially as geopolitical tensions persist. By fostering friendships among the younger generation, such exchanges lay the groundwork for more cooperative and peaceful bilateral relations in the future.
Source Statement
This curated news summary relied on content distributed by Media Outreach. Read the original source here, American Students Receive Personal Reply from President Xi After China Exchange
