On February 14, the Chinese Consulate General in Chicago held a Celebration of the Chinese New Year of the Horse in Muscatine, Iowa. Consul General Wang Baodong attended the event with friends of Iowa, along with more than 200 representatives of Chinese and American teachers, students, and  local community members.

Consul General Wang extended New Year greetings to friends from all sectors in Iowa, introduced the achievements of Chinese modernization, the overall considerations for the 15th Five-Year Plan and the latest developments in China-U.S. relations. He noted that over the past year both the international landscape and China-U.S. relations have undergone changes. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, however, the friendship between the two peoples has endured, and the shared desire to strengthen exchanges and cooperation remains unchanged. China stands ready to strengthen dialogue and communication with the United States, expand subnational and youth exchanges, and promote the steady and sustained development of China–U.S. relations on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.

Friends of Iowa expressed their willingness to continue enhancing friendly exchanges between the peoples of the two countries, including the younger generation, and to make new contributions to the development of U.S.-China relations.

The Student Art Troupe of the High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China presented a splendid cultural performance. The venue was filled with a joyful and harmonious Spring Festival atmosphere.