Organization fosters ties between Chinese, US youth

An alumnus of the school, Chong founded the US-China Youth and Student Exchange Association after the visit, aiming to bridge the gap between the cultures and values of the two nations. Since its inception, the association has facilitated a series of impactful initiatives, enabling meaningful interactions between young minds from both countries.

With Xi's personal invitation to the students to visit China, Chong helped to organize a trip in 2016 for 100 students from his alma mater.

Araya Zackery was a sophomore when she traveled to China. She told China Daily then that the warm welcome and sincerity really made the US students feel at home, and she felt lucky to be exposed to a completely different culture.

"After their return to the United States, these students' experiences had a ripple effect, reaching well beyond 100 families. They not only shared their stories with their parents, but also enlightened their teachers and friends about the genuine facets of China," Chong said.

The association's commitment to fostering mutual understanding was further exemplified by the visit of a delegation of students from Sichuan province to Washington state in 2018.

At the invitation of the state government, a delegation of 25 young students from 10 schools in Sichuan visited and spent a week in the state that October.

The delegation toured Seattle and Tacoma, stayed with local families, tasted local cuisine, and attended classes at local schools. Lincoln students accompanied their Chinese friends and shared with them their favorite games and songs.