Chinese President Xi Jinping responded warmly to a group of teachers and students from Montgomery County, Maryland, who participated in a youth pickleball exchange program in China. This visit was part of the “50,000 in Five Years” initiative, aiming to bring 50,000 young Americans to China within five years. Xi praised the delegation for their trip and expressed hope that sports like pickleball would foster friendship and cultural understanding between Chinese and American youth, encouraging them to become ambassadors of goodwill between the two nations.
During their April visit, the American students engaged in pickleball exchanges and built strong friendships with their Chinese peers, expressing interest in hosting similar visits in the United States. President Xi emphasized that the future relationship between China and the U.S. depends on today’s youth, highlighting the exchange program’s role in creating trust and long-term cultural ties. The initiative is expected to continue facilitating mutual understanding and deeper connections between young people from both countries.
