On September 23 local time, President Xi Jinping visited Lincoln High School in Tacoma of the US.

At about 5:10 p.m., when Xi Jinping and his wife Mme. Peng Liyuan arrived at the Lincoln High School by car, Mayor Marilyn Strickland of Tacoma and Principal Patrick Erwin of Lincoln High School, who were waiting at the school gate, extended greetings to them. Mayor Marilyn Strickland welcomed Xi Jinping to visit Tacoma again as the Chinese President after 21 years. The representatives of the students presented Xi Jinping and his wife with flowers and the students holding national flags of both China and the US, standing at both sides of the roads, warmly greeted Xi Jinping and his wife.

Xi Jinping and his wife, accompanied by Mayor Marilyn Strickland and Principal Patrick Erwin, visited the gym of the school. Dripping with sweat, the students on a football class were having their training, winning appreciation from President Xi Jinping and his wife as well as other present audience. Following the training class, Xi Jinping received happily the football and jersey presented by the students as gifts.

Afterwards, Xi Jinping and his wife walked into the classroom and communicated with the teachers and students. The students and teachers greeted them with Chinese "Ni Hao". Some of them talked about their travelling experience in China, while some others talked about their aspiration to tour around China, and their love for Chinese civilization and people was written on their face. Xi Jinping was glad to see the passion of the teachers and students for China and welcomed all of them to tour around China more often. Xi Jinping pointed out that China boasts extensive and profound culture, and both sides should learn from and complement with each other for common progress. Education can serve as a bridge linking the people of China and the US.

In the school auditorium, Xi Jinping and his wife watched the video introducing the exchanges between Tacoma and Fuzhou, appreciated the Chinese song “On the Fields of Hope” and the English song “What a Wonderful World” jointly performed by the choir at Lincoln High School and the students of Affiliated High School of Fuzhou College of Education. The melodious and touching songs, carrying the friendship between the young students of the two countries, won unfading applause from the present audience.

Amid the warm applause of the teachers and students, Xi Jinping delivered a speech. Xi Jinping recalled the scene when he visited Tacoma 21 years ago, expressing that he is highly glad to see the relationship of sister cities between Tacoma and Fuzhou becomes firmer as time goes by. Xi Jinping pointed out that education has a bearing on the future of a country and a nation. Those young days are the most beautiful time in one’s life. He hopes that the students could cherish those days when they are young, hold a down-to-earth attitude, study hard and lay a sound foundation for their future. The students of the two countries should work together to build a better future for China-US relations.

Xi Jinping presented the students in Lincoln High School with gifts including books on China, ping-pong table and other table tennis facilities. Xi Jinping stressed that young people in both nations are hoped to enhance communication and intensify friendship, so as to continuously contribute to the high building of China-US relations. He hoped that the these books could serve as a window for them to get to know China. As the philosophy of "reading thousands of books and travelling thousands of miles" valued by China since ancient times, all of students are welcomed to experience China, have a more comprehensive and profound understanding of China, know China better, and hopefully like China through travel. During his speech, the present students and teachers stood up several times, bursting with warm cheers.

Tacoma, located in southern end of Puget Sound in Washington State and 51 kilometers southwest of Seattle, established a sister-city relationship with Fuzhou in 1994. Established in 1913, the Lincoln High School has about 1,500 students. In May, 2008, the school forged a sister-school relationship with Affiliated High School of Fuzhou College of Education.

Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others were present at above-mentioned events.