President Xi Jinping’s U.S. state visit is not the first time he sets foot on American soil, according to a Want China Times report.
Thirty years ago, the Dvorchak family accommodated a junior Chinese official who headed a five-person agricultural delegation to Muscatine, Iowa. Gary Dvorchak recalled that when he went to college, they offered a young Xi Jinping to stay in his room. The trip left an impression on Xi and it is believed that it was his only opportunity to stay with an American family.
During a visit three years ago as vice president, he made a personal trip to Iowa in order to visit some "old friends," which included the Dvorchak family.
Over the past three decades, Xi had visited the United States six times, from the cornfields of Iowa to the Annenberg Retreat at Sunnylands in California.
"President Xi is no stranger to the United States," said U.S. President Barack Obama during a meeting with the Chinese president in June 2013.
The two leaders have managed to reach a consensus regarding Sino-American relations, which is built on mutual respect, cooperation and common prosperity. During the visit to the Annenberg estate, the two presidents were seen having a walk without their usual suit and tie.
A year later, the two leaders then held a Beijing version of the retreat meeting during the 2014 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting in order to conduct in-depth talks. The previous meetings have led to the joint effort of curbing carbon emissions and relaxing strict visa rules.
The state visit by President Xi will not only have talks in the White House, but also with other prominent politicians and business leaders on economic and political agendas.