Beijing’s envoy to US calls on young Americans to lead ‘rational’ views of China

Ambassador Xie Feng says 14,000 US youths have visited China since November last year, but moves to steer clear of disruption ‘far from enough’

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Foreign tourists at the Bund in Shanghai last month. China’s Young Envoys Scholarship, or YES, offers five-year multiple-entry visas to young Americans taking part in the programme. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 1:00pm, 8 Dec 2024Updated: 3:22pm, 8 Dec 2024

Beijing’s top envoy to the United States has called for “objective and rational” views on China through more people-to-people exchanges, especially among youth.

A total of 14,000 young Americans have visited China since November last year, when President Xi Jinping announced plans to welcome 50,000 young Americans on exchange and study programmes over the next five years, according to Xie Feng, China’s ambassador to Washington.

Addressing a youth exchanges event at the embassy in Washington on Friday, Xie called for more young Americans to come to China and become “pioneers” in formulating correct perceptions of the country.

“Measure with your own steps, observe with your own eyes, and comprehend with your own heart. Stick to independent thinking, break the stereotype in mindset, to form an objective and rational ‘view of China’,” he said.

Geopolitical rivals China and the US have tried to manage their increasingly complicated relations by restoring people-to-people exchanges, even as tensions have escalated over issues ranging from ideology and national security to hi-tech access and trade tariffs.

Beijing set up the Young Envoys Scholarship, or YES, to realise the youth exchange pledge and offers five-year multiple-entry visas to young Americans taking part in the programme.

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