Steve Farr, an American scholar who has worked and lived in Guangzhou for 13 years, offers his personal perspective on the evolving U.S.-China relations:

在广州工作生活了13年的美国学者史蒂夫·法尔，就中美关系的发展变化分享了他的个人观察：

Eyes throughout the world will soon turn towards Beijing as the Presidents of America and China meet tomorrow. As an American living in China who loves and respects both countries, it is good to see perceptions of Americans change about China according to a new research recently released by the Pew Research Center.

明天，中美两国元首将在北京会晤，全世界的目光都将聚焦于此。作为一名生活在中国、热爱并尊重中美两国的美国人，我很高兴看到皮尤研究中心前不久发布的一项最新调查显示，美国人对中国的看法正在发生变化。

According to this survey, a growing percentage of Americans today have a positive view of China. This percentage is greater than last year and almost double the number of Americans having a positive view of China in 2023. This shift in positive views is especially pronounced among younger Americans. Should this trend continue, the majority of Americans could soon have more favorable impressions of China.

这项调查显示，如今有越来越多的美国人对中国持积极看法。这一比例高于去年，几乎是2023年时的两倍。这种积极转变在美国年轻人中尤为明显。如果这一趋势持续下去，大多数美国人可能很快会对中国产生更好的印象。

As younger Americans gain a greater understanding and learn more about Chinese culture, this new phenomenon or curiosity which combines our cultures is called “Chinamaxxing.” Further encouraging a more friendly view of China, social media or network sites such as Rednote play an ever increasing important role. China has become a lifestyle and these sites bridge cultural differences by opening the window for American youth to see China in daily life as they make personal connections to the other side of the world.

随着美国年轻人对中国文化有了更深的了解和学习，这种融合两国文化的“新现象”被称为“中国热”。社交媒体平台（如小红书）在促进对华友好看法方面发挥着越来越重要的作用。中国已经成为一种生活方式，这些平台为美国年轻人打开了一扇窗户，让他们看到日常生活中的中国，并与地球另一边的人们建立个人联系，从而弥合文化差异。

“Chinamaxxing” is not a surprise but rather a welcome change in more positive attitudes of Americans towards China. It is common to fear the unknown. Fear of the unknown results in anxiety around the unfamiliar and strange to include unpredictable situations or events. This fear of the unknown is often rooted in a lack of information and this uncertainty can be viewed as threatening. “Chinamaxxing” helps overcome this common fear or feeling of threat with first-hand knowledge.

“中国热”并不令人意外，它是美国人对中国态度更加积极的可喜变化。人们通常会恐惧未知。对未知的恐惧会导致对不熟悉、陌生的事物——包括不可预测的情况或事件——产生焦虑。这种恐惧往往源于信息匮乏，而不确定性则可能被视为威胁。“中国热”通过第一手的了解和知识，帮助克服了这种常见的恐惧或威胁感。

As more American youth embrace Chinese culture, one does not have to look far for examples of “Chinamaxxing”: more people drink hot water rather than cold water, brew fruit tea, exercise, remove their shoes and wear house slippers indoors. The appeal of the Adidas Tang jacket which debuted at Shanghai Fashion Week and the Labubu phenomenon — those furry animals with sharp teeth and large ears that became a global sensation, hot fashion accessory and hard-to-get collectable — also illustrate this trend.

随着越来越多的美国年轻人接纳中国文化，“中国热”的例子俯拾皆是：更多人开始喝热水而不是冷水，泡果茶，锻炼身体，进屋脱鞋换拖鞋。在上海时装周首次亮相的阿迪达斯唐装的吸引力，以及拉布布现象——那些毛茸茸、尖牙大耳的玩偶风靡全球，成为时尚配饰和难以买到的收藏品——也体现了这一趋势。

Further encouraging this positive change in favorable impressions among the youth of America, China had the foresight in November 2023 in San Francisco to launch the Young Envoys Scholarship (YES) initiative. This brilliant initiative, recognizing the importance of people-to-people diplomacy, is aimed to bolster America-China relations through China's invitation for 50,000 young Americans to visit China over five years. This initiative exemplifies the best of “Chinamaxxing.”

为了进一步推动美国年轻人对华好感度的积极转变，中国早在2023年11月于旧金山发起了“青年使者奖学金”（YES）计划。这项出色的倡议认识到人文外交的重要性，旨在通过邀请5万名美国青年在五年内访华来加强美中关系。该倡议是“中国热”的最佳典范。

Here in Guangzhou, hundreds of these student exchanges are skillfully managed by the Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau whose tireless work and support of international friendship is especially welcomed. Having personally helped develop exchange programs and host American students to China over the past decade, I have enjoyed greeting and encouraging these students to have “Open Eyes, Open Minds and Open Hearts.” In doing so, I know they will come to love China as much as I love China.

在广州，数百项此类学生交流项目由广州市教育局精心统筹管理，其孜孜不倦的工作以及对国际友谊的大力支持，尤其令人赞赏。过去十年里，我亲身参与设计交流项目并接待美国学生来华，我很高兴迎接并鼓励这些学生“睁开眼睛、敞开心扉、拥抱世界”。通过这些方式，我相信他们最终会像我一样爱上中国。

I have found these visiting exchange students to be filled with awe, fascination and wonder of China. Their trip is life-changing as their fear of the unknown is replaced with first-hand knowledge and respect. Of course, their favorite memories often include the Great Wall, China's scenic beauty, the balance of the old and new, incredible technology, vibrant cities and delicious cuisine ranging from Peking Duck to my personal all-time favorite – dim sum. I have yet to meet any visitor who does not share my love of Cantonese food. Perhaps most telling, almost every visiting student remarks how warm, welcomed and safe they felt. Students proudly share how they were treated as family rather than strangers. Their school peers they met will become life-long friends and through their tears upon leaving Guangzhou, these American students can be heard on the buses cheering in Chinese “我爱中国”(I love China）.

我发现这些来访的美国交流学生对中国充满敬畏、着迷和惊叹。这是改变他们人生的旅程——对未知的恐惧被亲身的了解和尊重所取代。当然，他们最喜欢的记忆通常包括长城、中国的自然美景、新与旧的平衡、令人难以置信的科技、充满活力的城市以及从北京烤鸭到广式点心——我的最爱——等美味佳肴。我还没有遇到过不爱粤菜的访客。也许最有说服力的是，几乎每位学生都感叹他们感受到的热情、欢迎和人身安全。他们自豪地分享自己受到的对待如同家人而非陌生人。他们在中学遇到的同龄人将成为一生的朋友，在离开广州时，这些美国学生眼里满含泪水，在巴士上用中文高呼“我爱中国”。

As the summit of our leaders in Beijing nears, it is natural to focus on geopolitical differences which is often overemphasized. These differences are often based upon cultural misunderstanding. Yes, we have significant differences. But does there always have to necessarily be one winner and one loser? Our world is becoming more complicated by the day. Imagine the number of global problems ranging from poverty to climate change which could be solved by the collective strength, wisdom and power of our two nations. I have faith in our leaders and this faith is strengthened by the recent positive change we are witnessing in our youth who will lead us tomorrow.

随着两国领导人北京峰会的临近，人们自然会关注地缘政治分歧——这些分歧往往被过度强调，且常常源于文化误解。是的，中美之间存在重大差异。但是两国之间一定要有赢家和输家吗？我们所处的世界日益复杂。想象一下，从贫困到气候变化，有多少全球性问题可以通过我们两国的集体力量、智慧和能力来解决。我信任我们的领导人，而最近在我们未来领袖——年轻人身上看到的积极变化，更加坚定了我的信念。

China and America need each other more than they sometimes wish to admit and they need each other now perhaps more than ever.

中国和美国需要彼此，这种需求有时超出了它们愿意承认的程度，而现在，它们对彼此的需求可能比以往任何时候都更加强烈。

The author is Steve Farr, executive director of the Secretariat Office for the Alliance of Guangzhou International Sister-City Universities（作者：史蒂夫·法尔，广州国际友城大学联盟秘书处执行主任）

The views don't necessarily reflect those of Guangzhou Daily（本文观点不代表广州日报立场）

Editors: Lyu Yun, Wu Di