Xi encourages Italian students to be 'new-era Marco Polos'

Chinese President Xi Jinping encouraged students at an Italian high school to be emissaries for China-Italy cultural exchange on Sunday.

While President Xi is about to embark on his European tour on March 21, with his first stop being Italy, the headmaster of Convitto Nazionale "Vittorio Emanuele II" di Roma, along with eight students, wrote a letter to Xi, expressing their sincere anticipation of his arrival and willingness to engage in the work of China-Italy friendship.

The Italian high school hosts the biggest Confucius Classroom in Italy.

In the letter to Xi, the students said they have been able to gain a better understanding of China through the Confucius Classroom, further appreciating the vastness of the world and the value of cultural diversity.

students of the school holding the magazine Instituto Confucio. /Photo via hanban.org

In his reply, President Xi showed his appreciation for the students' initiative to strengthen dialogue and cultural exchange between youth from China and Italy.

He said he expected them to be Marco Polos in the new era.

The Chinese President also welcomed the students to come to study and work in China, saying he hopes China will be the place where their dreams come true.

President Xi is scheduled to pay state visits to Italy, Monaco and France from March 21 to 26.

(Top image: students from Convitto Nazionale "Vittorio Emanuele II" di Roma read Chinese poems to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year in Rome, Italy, Feb. 23, 2018. /Photo via cri.cn.)