TIL that the current President of China, Xi Jinping, once stayed with an American family for two weeks in Iowa in 1985.

When my parents visited China in April, their first and only trip since the 1986 visit with my sister, the Chinese government rolled out the red carpet, hosting 10 days of touring, meetings and banquets. President Xi warmly welcomed my parents. The highlight of the trip was a private, two-hour dinner with the president and his wife.

Setting aside two hours of some of the most valuable time in the world to my parents (as well as me, my family and my brother) demonstrates the depth of warm feelings President Xi has for that brief time in Iowa so long ago.

But the fact that this dinner was not covered by the media and thus not staged for political purposes deepens my conviction that the Muscatine visit 30 years ago made a deep, personal and lasting positive impression on Xi. He really does consider the Muscatine hosts his "old friends."

This article was a great read and a reminder that you never know who you can influence with genuine hospitality.

/r/todayilearned Thread Link - thestreet.com