Elyn MacInnis receives her certificate as an Honorary Fuzhou Citizen from Lin Baojin, secretary of the Communist Party of China Fuzhou Municipal Committee. [HU MEIDONG/CHINA DAILY]

Plans for future

Speaking to China Daily, U.S. university faculty members and students seeking further exchanges with China called for more progress in facilitating air travel between the two countries.

At State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang's meeting with Blinken last month, China and the U.S. agreed to discuss increasing passenger flights, and welcomed more students and businesspeople to each other's countries.

Charlotte MacInnis, from the University of Arizona, said the institution is experiencing significant interest in its collaborative programs with China, and she hopes air travel between the two countries can become easier.

"I want to be able to return to China a lot more than I've been able to in the past. Air tickets are so expensive right now, and it's very difficult to afford them," she said.

Buescher Devan Jordan Donald, a second-grade graduate student from Peking University's School of International Studies, said he has met countless foreign students at the university, but has not seen many from the U.S. at the institution.

"I think this is partly due to the higher cost of flights to China, as well as the flight times," he said.

"I feel that once air ticket prices fall, and there are more flights between both countries, there will be a lot more American students in China, especially at Beida (Peking University)."

He said the biggest impressions he has gained from studying in China are the friendly people and the passion to help foreign students do well and learn the language and culture of China.

"It can be quite difficult to learn Mandarin. However, all the Chinese faculty members, the professors and Chinese students have been warm and willing to help foreign students learn and really grasp the local culture," he added.

Lauren Koop, a U.S. student at Peking University's School of International Studies, said, "As an American student at this university, I graciously accept President Xi's invitation to explore China and consider the country as a second home.

"Amity and curiosity will preserve U.S.-China relations. I hope to be part of the next generation of young Americans and Chinese who preserve the historical bonds between our two countries through friendship, goodwill and mutual respect."

Elyn MacInnis, the cultural expert, suggested that Kuliang should possibly be visited this summer by children from countries across the world.

Yang Jie and Feng Shiying in Fuzhou contributed to this story.