The little US town’s special connection with China’s President

World Today

Nestled along the banks of the Mississippi river, Muscatine in the state of Iowa is a world away from China as they say, but it’s a special place for Chinese President Xi Jinping.

President Xi visited Muscatine in 1985 as part of an agricultural delegation. He stayed with a local family in a modest house. As Vice President, Xi returned in 2012 to meet some of his old friends.

CCTV America’s Jim Spellman filed this report.

More details:

  • At Muscatine City Hall, a painting of Xi Jinping hangs on the wall. The trophy case is full of testaments to the connections between Muscatine and China. A connection that began with Xi’s visit in the mid-1980s and continues today.
  • Muscatine is now sister city to Zhengding, and Chinese investment is helping revitalize the city’s downtown. Mayor DeWayne Hopkins has traveled to China twice and will attend a conference with Chinese leaders in October, but the most important thing is the personal connection.