A commemorative event marking the 40th anniversary of Chinese President Xi Jinping's first visit to the U.S. state of Iowa was held on Thursday in Des Moines, the state capital.
Hosted by Iowa Sister States, the event brought together representatives from the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the governments of Hebei Province, Shijiazhuang City, and Zhengding County, and about 150 attendees, including Xi's longtime friends in Iowa and individuals from various sectors committed to fostering friendship.
Participants fondly recalled the warm moments from Xi's two visits to Iowa, unanimously agreeing that his first visit to the state 40 years ago planted the seeds of friendship.
Over the past four decades, thanks to Xi's personal attention and long-standing support, subnational and people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States, particularly between Hebei Province and the state of Iowa, have yielded fruitful results.
Looking ahead, both sides expressed a shared commitment to continuously strengthening cooperation and exchanges in areas such as sister city partnerships, youth engagement, and people-to-people initiatives, working together to write a new chapter in the friendship between the Chinese and American people.
Former U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad expressed hope that open dialogue would help resolve differences and further strengthen China-U.S. relations.
"We are very different in terms of our political systems, but our people have a lot of similarities. I'm impressed with the work ethic of the Chinese people, with their commitment to education, with their family values. And I think that's very similar to what we have here in Iowa. So, we are very hopeful that we'll work out the differences, and it will be beneficial to both the United States and China, and to the whole world," said Branstad.
Youth representatives from Hebei and Iowa presented a joint cultural performance during the event. A series of side activities were also held, including a youth exchange photo exhibition and an intangible cultural heritage display.
Des Moines event marks 40th anniversary of Xi's first Iowa visit
The Iranian government is focusing on public concerns and maintaining stable supplies of essential goods amid recent protests, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a televised interview on Sunday.
In the city of Karaj, northwest of the capital Tehran, daily life has largely continued as normal. A video filmed by a local resident on Sunday shows food stores open and grocery shelves fully stocked.
"This is the block near my home, and there are some food stores here. Daily life continues here. Last night we did not see many protests in Karaj. Right now the city is very safe. This is a grocery store close to my home. All the food is available; nothing is in shortage. Here are noodles and different types of beans. Here are dairy products, cheese, and yogurt. I also checked other grocery stores and didn't see any shortages. Everything is available," said local resident Ali Reza.
Iranian officials have described recent disturbances as acts orchestrated by the "enemy," including some carried out by well-trained and armed "terrorists." The incidents have caused casualties among security personnel and civilians, as well as property damage.
The Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani has directed authorities to severely punish the "terrorists."
Meanwhile, Iran's police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan said on Sunday that the police had raised alert levels and arrested several leaders of the troublemakers during the operations on Saturday.
President Pezeshkian noted in the interview that the normal demands of the Iranian people are reasonable and justified, but they must realize that triggering riots and carrying out terrorist acts are the enemy's attempts to undermine the country. He urged the public to remain vigilant.
Also on Sunday, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warned that Tehran would regard U.S. and Israeli bases and facilities in the Middle East as "legitimate targets" if Washington takes military action against Iran. His remarks followed media reports saying U.S. President Donald Trump is "seriously considering authorizing a strike" against Iran.
Iranian state media reported that at least 109 members of Iran's security forces have been killed in clashes since the protests began 14 days ago. Meanwhile, human rights groups based outside the country said the number of protesters killed has exceeded 200, though the figure could not be independently verified.
The protests initially erupted over a sharp depreciation of the rial and sweeping subsidy reforms. Iranian authorities have blamed the unrest on foreign-linked agents and sanctions imposed by the United States.
Iranian president says government focusing on ensuring supplies amid protests
