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Lo Hoi-ying

A university student in Hong Kong who recently received a letter from Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that an ocean voyage, a food delivery app and having a curious mind helped break stereotypes and bridge gaps between Chinese and American young people.
Liu Runjie, a fourth-year electronic engineering student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), was among 20 young people who joined a China-US youth friendship programme and shared their experiences with Xi, prompting a reply from the president.
Speaking to the South China Morning Post on Sunday, 20-year-old Liu said the group felt excited, encouraged and honoured by Xi’s reply, which called on young people from the two countries to continue contributing to cultural exchanges and mutual understanding.
He said Xi’s letter was recognition of the programme’s success and encouragement for young people to participate in cultural exchanges and serve as ambassadors.
“What we truly saw and felt during the voyage, and the genuine friendship forged between us, could be seen, valued and recognised by the country,” he said.
During the two-week maritime exchange programme held in March and April, Liu realised that many prejudices and barriers stem from a lack of personal contact and authentic communication.
Liu noted some cultural differences in daily habits, ways of expression and socialising styles between Chinese and American young people.

While Americans were a bit more enthusiastic and open, young Chinese tended to be more reserved or shy, he said.
“But what touched me even more was how many commonalities we share deep down as young people. We are all incredibly curious about new things,” he said.
“At the same time, this experience shattered many stereotypes held by the outside world.”
He added that his American counterparts were very willing to understand “the real China” and were eager to listen to their stories and thoughts.
“There wasn’t that strong sense of alienation that people on the outside might imagine,” he said.
Before joining the exchange, the Americans’ understanding of China might have been limited to mainstream elements of Chinese culture such as kung fu or Chinese New Year, he said.
Likewise, he was initially concerned that Americans might hold negative views of China.
“But after actually communicating with them, I discovered they were actually very willing to learn about and understand the reality of China today,” he said.
“The programme made us deeply realise that sincere, face-to-face exchanges among youth can bridge geographic and background gaps, eliminate misunderstandings and build trust.”
The group of students boarded the China-US Youth Friendship research vessel from Hong Kong to explore the ocean and visited Ningbo in Zhejiang province and Shanghai.

The programme also included visits to historical landmarks, hi-tech enterprises, new rural developments and urban civic centres.
At the end of the trip, the participants collectively wrote to the Chinese president to share what they had learned and experienced.
The trip was jointly organised by the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs, the China-United States Exchange Foundation and a team under Ray Dalio, founder of hedge fund Bridgewater Associates.
The initiative was launched to echo the “50,000 in Five Years” scheme introduced in 2023, which called for 50,000 young Americans to visit China for exchanges and study programmes within that time frame.
Liu said that young Americans were impressed by China’s urban construction and economic development, especially when he recounted how Shenzhen had transformed from a fishing village into a cosmopolitan city within decades.
He said he recommended the Meituan app to them for their stay in Ningbo and Shanghai, and they were impressed by its convenience.
Another memorable moment for Liu was when the group observed and identified marine microorganisms on the ship together.

“Some of us were good at biology, some at engineering, and some at English communication, but everyone worked together,” he said.
“At that moment, I deeply realised that the ocean knows no borders, and science knows no borders.”
Despite their differences, Liu said this experience made him realise they were all young explorers of the world with a common goal of understanding the world and safeguarding the same future.
Liu said he would keep in touch with his American counterparts through social media apps such as Instagram and WeChat.
He also planned to serve as a bridge during campus activities and encourage people around him to join more such exchanges.
“Because if we only get to know each other online, misunderstandings or barriers will persist,” he said.
He said friendly cultural exchanges between the United States and China could develop healthily, as long as the younger generation maintained an open, inclusive, sincere and friendly attitude.
“As long as we drop the preconceived labels and step closer to one another, we’ll find that everyone is just a well-intentioned, ordinary young person,” he said.
“The differences aren’t nearly as big as imagined.”


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Liu Runjie (centre in white) was among 20 young students from China and the US who took part in the two-week “A Shared Voyage: China-US Youth Friendship Program” in March and April. Photo: Handout

Liu Runjie (left) with an American student during the closing ceremony in Shanghai. Photo: Handout

Liu Runjie (second from right) identifies marine microorganisms on OceanXplorer, a vessel under the philanthropic arm of billionaire investor Ray Dalio. Photo: Handout

Participants of the maritime programme at Ningbo University. Photo: Handout

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Liu Runjie is a fourth-year undergraduate student at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Photo: Handout

Liu Runjie was among 20 students from China and the US who took part in a two-week youth exchange in March and April. Photo: Handout

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CUHK undergraduate Liu Runjie describes how Chinese and US students reached common understanding during youth exchange trip


CUHK undergraduate Liu Runjie describes how Chinese and US students reached common understanding during youth exchange trip.


Student recalls eye-opening trip with American peers that drew praise from Xi

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}CUHK undergraduate Liu Runjie describes how Chinese and US students reached common understanding during youth exchange trip

CUHK undergraduate Liu Runjie describes how Chinese and US students reached common understanding during youth exchange trip