Stories of state gifts to Xi: Model of cargo symbolizes China's opening up

While holding a meeting with American politicians in Seattle, Washington on Sept. 22, 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping told a story about China-U.S. relations.

"With the arrival of the Chinese cargo ship ‘Liu Lin Hai’ at the port of Seattle just less than four months after the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations, shipping services between both countries resumed after a decades-long suspension," the Chinese President said.

Photo shows a 3D printed model of the ship "Liu Lin Hai", a gift from Microsoft Corporation to Chinese President Xi Jinping during his visit to the headquarters of the company in the U.S. in September 2015. (Photo/Hu Yang)

On Sept. 23, when President Xi visited the headquarters of Microsoft Corporation, he accepted a 3D printed model of the ship "Liu Lin Hai” from the company.

"A gift from Microsoft for revealing another chapter of the US-China friendship since its historic voyage in 1979 and for the welfare of the two peoples of the two countries," read the nameplate of the ship model.

The maiden voyage of "Liu Lin Hai" became a symbol of China's opening up.

During his visit to the U.S., Xi met with people from various circles in the country and emphasized on many occasions that "China will never close its open door to the outside world."

Forty-three years ago, the "Liu Lin Hai" ship made its maiden voyage, opening the first sea route between China and the U.S. after the establishment of bilateral relations.

Today, on the vast Pacific Ocean, ships carrying thousands of containers sail between the two countries every day. In 2021, trade between China and the U.S. was 302 times larger than in 1979, a record high.

Chinese President Xi Jinping has a virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden on Nov. 16, 2021. (Photo/Yue Yuewei)

History and the reality have proven that China-U.S. economic and trade relations are mutually beneficial, and the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries can bring enormous benefits to the two countries and their peoples.

At a virtual meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden in November 2021, President Xi compared China and the U.S. to two giant ships sailing in the ocean. It is important for the two sides to keep a steady hand on the tiller, so that the two giant ships will break waves and forge ahead together, without losing direction or speed, still less colliding with each other, he said.