A county school students and teacher in Maryland of the United States say they look forward to visiting China again on more exchange programs.
U.S. President Donald Trump's three-day state visit to China at the invitation of President Xi Jinping has been closely watched by the world, including pickleball exchange students and teachers in Rockville in Maryland.
"We are just so inspired to see right now our presidents, at the summit between President Trump and President Xi, at the top of course of our countries, and being able to model that diplomacy and to build that shared understanding and mutual cooperation is inspiring," said Jeffrey Sullivan, director of systemwide athletics for Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS).
Jeffrey Sullivan has overseen two pickleball exchange trips to China.
The first MCPS pickleball trip to China took place in April 2025, with 31 students as well as supporting staff traveling to Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing.
In February this year, a group of Chinese students then visited the U.S. That was quickly followed by a second trip by MCPS students to China. It's all part of President Xi Jinping's initiative to bring 50,000 students for exchange and study programs to China over a five-year period.
"I believe relationships between countries start one relationship at a time. So for us to be one small part, right, but a very impactful part of building relations between the United States and China at our level, and being able to embrace and be able to model that, and when you play that out with more people and more experiences, it builds more bridges," Sullivan said.
Michael Horton was one of the students that visited China this year. He hopes the positivity that is emerging from President Trump's state visit to China will inspire other U.S. students to visit China through an exchange program.
"I think that everybody should experience something like this in their lifetime. Just be open to try new things, because you can't go into an experience like this with a closed mind. Everything you're going to try is new, everything you're going to see is new, and every person that you meet is going to have different experiences than you," said Michael Horton.
That view is echoed by Sullivan.
"It's genuine and real and for anyone that's wondering about it, come join us and watch us and be part of what we're doing. It's just been so empowering and inspiring on all of our trips and all of our experiences, to just watch the magic happen, and it is magical to see," Sullivan said.
American county school students hope to visit China again
