Presents from home

With Mid-Autumn Festival approaching, Xi and the first lady brought moon cakes from Beijing to a group of 500 overseas Chinese in Seattle and conveyed best wishes for the upcoming traditional day for family reunions.

Speaking with overseas Chinese who greeted him at the Westin Seattle Hotel on Wednesday night, Xi opened his remarks by referring to a Chinese saying: "When two men from the same hometown meet in a foreign land, tears would well from their eyes as they reminisce about the old times."

The president said he believed overseas Chinese will make unique contributions to the rejuvenation of China, a process unfolding at unprecedented speed.

Xi expressed his hope of seeing the overseas Chinese actively join mainstream US society and push forward economic and social development. He asked them to take advantage of their knowledge on both sides and act as a bridge for communication and cooperation between China and the US.