On the morning of June 3, the “Exploring Qin Heritage, Youth in Step” 2026 U.S. Student Delegation Welcome Ceremony & China-U.S. Youth Exchange took place at the Second Classroom of the School of Foreign Languages, Chang’an Campus, Northwest University. More than a formal welcome, the event served as a sincere and warm cultural dialogue between Chinese and American youth.
At 9:40 a.m., the event opened before the China-U.S. Friendship Monument. Delegation members and Northwest University faculty and students toured the monument, a symbol of friendship between the two peoples. Sunlight fell on the stone—and on the expectant faces of every participant. Though their languages differed, smiles and shared glances quietly dissolved the initial unfamiliarity.
The welcome ceremony began promptly at 10:00 a.m. Professor Han Zhibin, Vice President of Northwest University, delivered the opening remarks, extending a warm welcome to the visiting group, outlining the university’s disciplinary focus and internationalization efforts, and expressing hope that the delegation would experience Xi’an’s historical heritage and that the encounter would deepen mutual understanding between the two countries’ youth. Xie Ying, the delegation’s lead teacher, and Li Guanghui, Director-General of the Department of American and Oceanian Affairs at the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, followed with remarks encouraging students to cherish the rare opportunity, absorb the rich history of the Sanqin region, and forge friendships with like-minded peers. Their words echoed President Xi Jinping’s message in his reply to a U.S. youth exchange delegation— “to build a bridge for carrying forward the friendship between the two peoples.”
Student representatives from both sides then shared their reflections. American students spoke of their curiosity about Shaanxi’s history and culture and their anticipation for the visit; Chinese students, drawing on personal experience, invited their peers to immerse themselves in Qin-region customs and Chinese folk traditions. The atmosphere culminated in a souvenir exchange, where both sides presented distinctive gifts and posed for a group photo to capture the moment.
After the ceremony, the program moved to a hands-on session. Forty-two visiting American teachers and students joined 30 Northwest University student volunteers in a baking workshop, working in small groups to make pastries and breaking down language barriers through playful collaboration. During free interaction, the young people conversed smoothly about campus life, local culture, and personal interests, bridging distance through simple words and gestures.
Leveraging Shaanxi’s regional cultural identity and themed “Exploring Qin Heritage, Youth in Step,” the event moved beyond the conventional panel format to integrate cultural visits, ceremonial remarks, and hands-on practice. As a rising force in people-to-people diplomacy, youth are advancing China-U.S. cultural exchange in fresh, accessible ways. Through collaboration between the provincial friendship association and the university, the visit allowed American youth to experience the cultural appeal of Sanqin up close while broadening Chinese students’ international horizons, laying a foundation for regular China-U.S. youth study-tour exchanges going forward.
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