From Iowa farm to White House: Look back at Xi's US visits

Second trip: Sept 1992

As Party Secretary of Fuzhou, Fujian province

American professor's affection for China

Xi Jinping (second from right) meets with an American woman in Fuzhou, Fujian province, 1992. [Photo/people.cn]

Xi led a delegation to the US in 1992. Ahead of his visit, he learned through a newspaper that an American professor's final wish was to go back to Fujian province's Guling, where he had enjoyed 10 years of happy time in the 1990s.

Moved by the man's deep affection for China, Xi tried to reach the professor's widow who had been to China many times to find her late husband's dream place and invited her to Guling. The woman, who was in her 90s, finally fulfilled her husband's wish under Xi's arrangement.

Third trip: Oct 1993

New York City, Los Angels

As Party Secretary of Fuzhou, Fujian province

New Year cards for overseas student

Xi praised the contribution overseas Chinese had made to China's development during overseas Chinese gatherings in NYC and Los Angeles.

Xi had a habit of making notes and liked to ask questions, an overseas student who had received xi recalled. The student received New Year cards from Xi for several years following the visit.