青春跃马共赴新程——谢锋大使在2026年中美青年新春联欢主题活动上的致辞

Charge ahead with youthful vigor and embark on a new journey hand in hand—Remarks by H.E. Ambassador Xie Feng at the 2026 China-U.S. Youth Spring Festival Gala

尊敬的谭森会长、威尔奇主席，

同学们，老师们，朋友们：

PresidentSean Stein,

PresidentCharles Welch,

Dear students, teachers and friends,

晚上好！欢迎大家来使馆共迎新春、共话友谊。去年此时，我们在此欢聚一堂，一同包饺子、写福字、贴春联，体验浓浓年味。岁序更新，今年我们再次如约而至，一起逛庙会、赏苏绣、做汤圆，在欢声笑语中续写中美青年友好新篇章。

Good evening, and a very warm welcome to you all to the Spring Festival Gala at our Embassy!I can still vividly remember our gathering here last January, where we shared the festive joy by making dumplings, writing the character “Fu” for good fortune, and putting up spring couplets. It is great to come together with our young friends again today for our annual celebration. Just now, we had fun at the temple fair, appreciated Suzhou embroidery and made sweet rice balls, kicking off a new chapter in the friendship between Chinese and American youths.

刚进入2026年，中美青年交往就迎来了一件大事、喜事：习近平主席复信佛罗里达州访华交流团师生。在复信中，习主席期待更多美国青少年加入到中美友好事业中来，做两国友好的新一代使者，为增进中美人文交往和推动双边关系发展作出更大贡献。一年来，习主席多次回信寄语青年，发出热情邀约、提出殷切期望。在元首引领下，中美青年交流热度上升、亮点纷呈，为两国关系注入源源不断的青春力量。

Just a few days into the year 2026, we witnessed a happy and big event in China-U.S. youth exchanges: President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from a U.S. youth education exchange delegation from Florida. In the letter, President Xi expressed his expectation to see more American youth joining the cause of China-U.S. friendship, becoming a new generation of envoys for friendship between our two countries, and making greater contributions to enhancing people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States and promoting the development of bilateral relations. Over the past year, President Xi has replied to letters from and sent messages to the youth multiple times, extending warm invitations and sharing sincere hopes. Under our leaders’ guidance, China-U.S. youth exchanges have gone from strength to strength, steadily injectingfresh vigor into bilateral relations.

这一年，中美青年双向奔赴，争做互学互鉴的并肩行者。两国青少年跨越山海、相互走近。数万名中国学生赴美留学深造，两万多名美国青少年到访中国。大家在艺术舞台上共鸣、在体育赛场上切磋、在科技创新中协作，取得丰硕成果。从洛杉矶的合唱团、马里兰的匹克球、怀俄明的冰球队，到中国的传统文化、科学课堂、特色美食，都为两国青年认知彼此、相互学习、各美其美、美美与共打开了一扇扇新的窗户。不少中美青少年成为不断线的笔友，许多中小学结为长期交流的姊妹学校，拉紧了双方人文交流的新纽带。

Over the past year, our youths havelearned from each other, and moved forward hand in hand.The vast Pacific could not keep our youths apart. Tens of thousands of Chinese students came to the U.S. for further studies, while more than 20,000 young Americans visited China. Our young people performed together on stage, competed in the arena, and collaborated in scientific innovation, achieving fruitful results every step on the way. From student choirs in Los Angeles, the pickleball delegation from Maryland and the hockey team from Wyoming, to China’s traditional culture, science classes and unique cuisines, new windows are opening for our youths to connect, share, and celebrate each other’s cultures. Many teenagers have become pen pals, and a number of primary and middle schools have established sister-school partnerships, further strengthening the bonds between our two peoples.

这一年，中美青年相互感知，争做心灵相通的友谊使者。美国青少年深入中国校园、社区、企业，领略人文胜景、徜徉绿水青山、体验科技前沿、感受墨韵书香。大家由衷感叹中国人民的热情友善、社会的安全有序、科技的日新月异、交通的便捷畅达。许多人视中国之行为“一次改变人生的旅程”，希望未来到中国留学就业。中国在美留学生也在体验不同的过程中，增长了知识、丰富了阅历。青年一代用真实见闻打破信息茧房、用躬身实践消除认知迷思。今日播下正确认知的种子，明日必将长成民相亲、国相交的参天大树。

Over the past year, our youths havereached out to each other, and striven to be envoys of goodwill. American teenagers delved into Chinese campuses, communities and enterprises, to enjoy stunning landscapes, explore cutting-edge technologies, and soak in the charm of ancient culture. They were impressed by China’s warm hospitality, safety, technological advances and convenient transport. Many saw their trip to China as “life-changing”, and are planning to go back for further studies and career opportunities. Meanwhile, Chinese students here in the U.S. have also broadened their horizons in a different culture. With their first-hand experience, the younger generation has broken the information cocoon and cleared up misunderstandings. All these seeds of correct perception planted today will surely grow into towering trees tomorrow, fostering affinity between our peoples and nations.

这一年，中美青年砥砺前行，争做引领时代的开拓勇者。中美青年科学家携手攻关，在癌症早期检测、可降解材料等领域取得突破性进展。哈佛学子赴北京、山西等地开展教育研讨、企业参访和文化探寻，体验人工智能教学课堂，与智能机器人共舞对话，交流分享STEM教育经验。两国青年共同参加世界青年和平大会，发出珍爱和平、维护团结、携手应对全球性挑战的时代强音，展现出推动构建人类命运共同体、建设美好世界的胸怀担当。

Over the past year, our youths have innovated together, anddriven the change of our times. Young scientists from both countries have joined hands to achieve breakthroughs in areas including early cancer detection and degradable materials. Students from Harvard University visited Beijing and Shanxi for educational exchanges, business visits and cultural tours, during which they attended classes on AI education, interacted with intelligent robots, and shared their understanding of STEM education. Youth representatives from China and the U.S. also gathered at the World Youth Conference for Peace in Beijing, calling for cherishing peace, upholding solidarity and jointly combating global challenges, and reaffirming their commitment to forging a community with a shared future for humanity and building a better world.

各位朋友，

Dear friends,

一年之计在于春。春天是播种希望的季节、是规划未来的起点。中美关系作为世界上最重要的双边关系，需要两国人民悉心培育与呵护，而青年交流就是其中最富生机的“春耕”。中国正在扎实推进“十五五”规划，以高质量发展全面推进中国式现代化。一个开放包容的中国，始终是世界和平的稳定锚、发展的定盘星、增长的主引擎。选择与中国同行，就是拥抱机遇；投身中美青年交流，就是投资未来。站在新的起点，我们满怀新的期待。

As a Chinese proverb goes, “A year’s plan starts with spring.” Spring is the season to sow hope and chart the path to the future. As the most important bilateral relationship in the world, the China-U.S. relationship requires careful nurturing by both our peoples. Youth exchanges, like spring plowing, instill thegreatest vitality into the process. At present, China is taking solid steps to follow up on the 15th Five-Year Plan and advance Chinese modernization on all fronts through high-quality development. An open and inclusive China will always be an anchor of stability for world peace, a pillar of global development, and a major engine of global growth. Embracing China is embracing opportunities, and supporting China-U.S. youth exchanges is investing in the future. From this fresh starting point, there is much we can look forward to.

我们期待以担当清障，让往来无阻。青年交流是中美关系的希望工程。两国元首高瞻远瞩，在釜山会晤期间就促进人文交流达成重要共识。习近平主席明确指出，开展友好交流合作是中美两国民心所向。中国愿与美国做伙伴、做朋友，友好的大门始终对美国人民敞开。特朗普总统多次表态欢迎中国留学生。我们呼吁美方切实将两国元首共识落到实处，用长远眼光看待和处理中美关系，多铺路搭桥、少设障拆台，多鼓励倡导、少干预阻挠，为两国青少年往来、学习、科研提供更多支持和便利。

We look forward to removing obstacles to interactionswith resolve. Youth exchangesare a project of hope in China-U.S. relations. With vision and foresight, our two Presidents reached important consensus on promoting people-to-people exchanges during the Busan Summit last October. President Xi Jinping pointed out that fostering friendly exchanges and cooperation is the shared aspiration of the people of both China and the U.S. China is ready to be a partner and friend of the U.S., and our door of friendship is always open to the American people. President Donald Trump said on multiple occasions that the U.S. side welcomes Chinese students. We call on the U.S. side to earnestly implement our Presidents’ consensus, view and handle China-U.S. relations with a long-term perspective, build bridges instead of barriers, and encourage, rather than hinder, our youths’ interactions, learning and research.

我们期待以勇气护航，让交流升温。思想因碰撞而活跃，文明因交流而进步。中国已建成世界规模最大的高质量教育体系，拥有规模宏大、门类齐全的人才资源。美国是教育强国，拥有丰富的教育资源和深厚的创新底蕴。两国教育界汇聚了众多有智慧、有远见的人士，理应互学互鉴、共促共进，成为增进相互理解、拓展交流合作的典范。我们坚定支持美国教育界和其他社会各界有识之士，秉持对未来负责的态度，勇于发声，积极行动，冲破“寒蝉效应”，排除束缚干扰，大力推动、积极参与中美教育交流，为中美关系注入更多希望与力量。

We look forward toboosting exchanges with courage. Minds are enlivened through dialogue, and civilizations progress through exchange. China has built the world’s largest high-quality education system, with abundant and comprehensive talent resources. The U.S. is a leading nation in education, boasting rich resources and a deep-rooted tradition of innovation. Both our countries have a lot of insightful educators, and we have every reason to draw on each other, complement one another, and set an example for enhancing mutual understanding and expanding cooperation. We firmly support people with vision from the U.S. education community and other sectors in speaking up and acting with a sense of responsibility for the future, overcoming the chilling effect and disruptions, and vigorously advocating and participating in China-U.S. educational exchanges, so as to infuse more hope and vitality into bilateral relations.

我们期待以行动作答，让友谊长青。青年是人文交流最具活力的主体。青年时的努力，定会在未来结出硕果。我们希望两国青年继续加强交往、深化友谊，成为中美友好的传承者、践行者、开拓者。希望中美青年携手并肩，踊跃参与到数字经济、绿色低碳、人工智能等领域的对话合作中，共同答好前沿课题。中国始终坚持高水平对外开放，我们热忱欢迎更多美国青少年参与“5年5万”倡议，到中国研学、访学、留学，亲自去中国走走看看，为青春赋能，为人生添彩。

We look forward to keeping our friendship evergreen with action.Young people are the most dynamic force in people-to-people exchanges. What is sown in youth will surely bear fruit in the future. It is our hope that our youths will engage more often with each other, deepen friendship, and carry forward, champion and cultivate goodwill between our two countries. We also hope our youths will actively carry out dialogue and cooperation in areas such as digital economy, green and low-carbon development and artificial intelligence, and jointly tackle frontier challenges. China is committed to high-standard opening-up. We warmly welcome more young Americans to take part in the “50,000 in five years” initiative, visit China for exchanges, tours and further studies, see China for yourselves, and make every moment of your youth count.

各位朋友，

Dear friends,

农历丙午马年正在向我们走来。马在中国文化中象征着奔腾、奋发、进取。衷心祝愿各位青年朋友青春跃马，共赴新程，为中美关系谱写新篇！

Very soon, we will ring in the Year of the Horse. In Chinese culture, the horse symbolizes vigor, aspiration and bold resolve. May all our young friendscharge ahead with the vitality of the horse, embark on a new journey hand in hand, and write a fresh chapter in China-U.S. relations!

谢谢。

Thank you very much.