Mr. Dewayne M. Hopkins, Mayor of Muscatine,
Ms. Sarah Lande, our old friend,
Mr. Tony Joseph, Chairman of Mayor Muscatine China Initiative Committee,
Mr. Ni Ping, President of Wanxiang America Corporation,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

It is my great pleasure and privilege to attend the signing ceremony for the Agreement of Cooperation on "Wanxiang Scholars" Program between Muscatine and Wanxiang Group.

The signing of this Agreement is another telling example of the friendly exchanges between China and Muscatine.

Under this Agreement, the Muscatine School District and Muscatine Community College will send two groups of students to China for a four-week immersion program in the next two years sponsored by Wanxiang Group.

These students will not only study in China, but will also serve as goodwill ambassadors of Muscatine. They will not only be able to know more about China, but will also introduce Muscatine to the Chinese people. Their trip will surely further enhance the friendship between China and Muscatine.

On this joyful occasion, I wish to extend my warmest congratulations to you all on the signing of this Agreement and express my appreciation to Mayor Hopkins, Ms. Lande, Chairman Joseph, and many other friends from the community for their support to the friendly exchanges between China and Muscatine.

I also wish to take this opportunity to thank Wanxiang Group most sincerely for their important contribution to China-US student exchanges.

Today, I feel very honored to stand here along with Mayor Hopkins, Ms. Lande and Chairman Joseph – because last time when I saw them, they were on TV with Vice President Xi Jinping.

The visit to Muscatine by Vice President Xi last February was a great success. Many Chinese have come to know this beautiful city and its warm people through the wide media coverage of the visit. Muscatine has become a symbol of China-US friendship.

My colleagues and I look forward to visiting Muscatine more often in future. And we sincerely hope that you will take time to visit the Chinese Consulate General when you are in Chicago next time.

In conclusion, I wish the City of Muscatine greater prosperity in the year of 2013.

Thank you.