President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan, have encouraged the young people of China and the United States to enhance mutual understanding and contribute to the development of China-US relations and world peace.

They made the statement in a New Year card that was sent on Wednesday to the representatives of middle-school teachers and students in the US state of Washington.

In the card, Xi and Peng said the year 2025 marks the 80th anniversary of the victory in the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45) and the World Anti-Fascist War.

During World War II, China and the US fought together for peace and justice, and the friendship between the two peoples stood the test of blood and fire and is growing even stronger, they said.

In the card, Xi and Peng extended their New Year wishes and expressed their hope that the young people of both countries will continue to participate in China's initiative of inviting 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs over the course of five years, strengthen exchanges and interactions, enhance mutual understanding and carry forward the traditional friendship.

The US-China Youth and Student Exchange Association, as well as representatives of teachers and students from Lincoln High School and Stadium High School, who visited China through the China-proposed initiative, sent a New Year card to Xi, Peng and the Chinese people.?

More than 100 teachers and students signed the card. They wrote in Chinese to extend their New Year greetings and wished for an everlasting friendship between China and the US.

caodesheng@chinadaily.com.cn