"TO ME, YOU ARE AMERICA"

Xi's help renewed the Gardner family's old bond with China. In 2012, when visiting the United States as China's vice president, Xi shared the Kuliang story at a luncheon.

"I believe that among the people of China and the United States, there are many touching stories like this," he said, calling for strengthening exchanges between Chinese and American people and cultivating a solid public opinion basis for the mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries.

In the United States, descendants of American families who once lived in Kuliang formed the group "Kuliang Friends" to continue the legacy of friendship.

On Wednesday, members of the group attended the "Bond with Kuliang: 2023 China-US People-to-People Friendship Forum" in Fuzhou. Xi, now China's president, sent a congratulatory letter.

"I was very glad to hear from members of the Kuliang Friends and to know from your letter more touching stories about your connection with Kuliang," said Xi, adding that amity between peoples holds the key to the relationship between countries.

The Kuliang story is a widely told one about Xi's personal efforts to promote friendly exchanges between Chinese and American peoples. From serving at the grassroots to being the Chinese president, Xi has been a consistent builder of friendship with American people.