San Francisco, USA – Nov 16, 2023 (CCTV – No access Chinese mainland)
1. Students from Lincoln High School Choir in Tacoma of Washington State preparing to perform song to celebrate upcoming birthday of Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping
2. Various of students performing song “Happy Birthday”, guests applauding
3. China Media Group (CMG) President and Editor-in-Chief Shen Haixiong and student posing for group photo by holding hand-painted artwork titled “Together for a Shared Future” by students
4. Photo of Shen and students holding paint
5. Photo of artwork titled “Together for Our Future”
6. Photo of birthday card reading “Happy Birthday To Madame Peng”
7. Shen and student posing for group photo by holding birthday card
8. Photo of birthday card
9. Various of students performing Chinese song “On the Field of Hope”
10. Various of guests applauding
11. Various of students performing English song “Stand by Me”, guests applauding
Storyline
A group of students from the Lincoln High School Choir in Tacoma of Washington State have prepared some delicate gifts to Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan during an event held in San Francisco on Thursday, showing their heartfelt hopes for lasting friendship and cooperation between the two countries in building a brighter future together.
The “Enduring Friendship” event, held on the occasion of Xi’s visit to attend the China-U.S. summit meeting and the 30th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting at the invitation of U.S. President Joe Biden, was organized in San Francisco by China Media Group (CMG) and the U.S.-China Youth and Student Exchange Association to discuss China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges.
During the event, the choir presented a hand-painted artwork titled “Together for a Shared Future” featuring prominent Chinese and Washington state symbols blended in harmony.
As Peng’s birthday is approaching, the students also presented her with carefully crafted birthday cards, affectionately wishing her a happy birthday and serenading her with an a cappella rendition of the song “Happy Birthday.”
Shen Haixiong, President and Chief-in-Editor of the CMG, received the gifts on behalf of President Xi and his wife.
The student representative of the Lincoln High School Choir, Romero, expressed the excitement of the students when they saw a video of President Xi and Peng visiting their school eight years ago. In the video, Xi and Peng were affable and approachable, teaching Chinese to the students and singing Chinese songs with them. The familiarity of the scene made everyone feel a sense of closeness.
During the event, the choir also performed the Chinese song “On the Field of Hope” and an English song named “Stand by Me”, expressing their yearning for a better life and celebrating the deep friendship between young students from China and the United States.
Isiah, another student representative, mentioned the special connection between Lincoln High School and China.
When President Xi visited the school, he quoted the Chinese philosophy of “reading thousands of books and traveling thousands of miles.” He not only donated books to the school but also provided opportunities for students to visit China for educational purposes. These experiences became windows for teachers and students to gain a deeper understanding of China.
Isiah expressed the hope for more exchanges with Chinese partners in the future, as they strive together for a better tomorrow.
Xi and Peng visited Lincoln High School in 2015 during his first state visit to the United States as Chinese president.
Xi presented the students in Lincoln High School with gifts including books on China, a ping-pong table and other table tennis facilities.
In May, 2008, the school, which was established in 1913, forged a sister-school relationship with Affiliated High School of Fuzhou College of Education.
