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Jun Mai

A name-card used by President Xi Jinping 30 years ago when he first visited the United States went viral online yesterday.
The card gives Xi's title as chairman of the food association of Shijiazhuang , the capital of Hebei province. He led a delegation representing the corn industry to the strongly agricultural state of Iowa in 1985.

The title caught some by surprise. "Wasn't he the party boss of Zhengding county then?" one microblog user said on Sina.
The card was shown in a report by state broadcaster CCTV yesterday. It interviewed Luca Berrone, who was working for Iowa's government at the time and received the delegation.
Read more: China's economy to take centre stage as Xi Jinping heads to US for state visit

Berrone showed a picture of the card and recalled details of the visit. "He was very keen on observing things and very curious," he said.
Berrone, now in his 50s, has been invited to meet Xi in Seattle when he makes his first formal state visit to the United States this week.
CCTV's Weibo account published pictures of a younger and leaner Xi with a group taken during the visit, and with a grin that's rarely seen now. "He has gained some weight since," one microblog user wrote.
Less than one year after his visit to Iowa, Xi was appointed deputy mayor of the coastal city of Xiamen in Fujian province.
Read more: Behind fairytale press, Chinese President Xi Jinping faces Goldilocks problem in America



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Xi Jinping

Name-card from Xi Jinping's first visit to US 30 years ago goes viral

Xi Jinping, right, at an earlier stage in his political career. Photo: Handout

Xi Jinping's card when he led a corn industry delegation to the US in 1985. 

Xi is on the far left.

China's economy to take centre stage as Xi Jinping heads to US for state visit

US President Barack Obama (left) walks with China's President Xi Jinping at the Zongnanhai leaders compound, ahead of a dinner in Beijing on November 11, 2014. Photo: AFP

Tibetan, Chinese, Uygur and American activists rally outside the White House in Washington. Photo: Reuters

President Xi Jinping will need to reassure investors that China's economy is stable and open for business. Photo: AFP

Xi's trip comes as China's economic growth has slowed to 7 per cent. Photo: AFP

American firms in China hope Xi Jinping's first US state visit will bring respite amid downturn

Chinese President Xi Jinping will start his first state visit to the US in Seattle on Tuesday. Photo: SCMP Pictures

Six top issues for China’s President Xi Jinping and US President Barack Obama ahead of state visit

US President Barack Obama (left) and President Xi Jinping, pictured in Beijing last December, will hold talks. Photo: AP

US President Barack Obama (left) and President Xi Jinping, pictured in Beijing last December, will hold talks File photo: AP

People hold up photos of alleged victims of persecution during a protest in front of the White House last week before the state visit of China's President Xi Jinping. Photo: AFP

Admiral Harry Harris (above), the commander of US forces in the Pacific, says the America should challenge China’s claim to territory in the South China Sea by patrolling close to artificial islands built by Beijing. Photo: EPA

Satellite images appear to show that China has started preparatory work on a third airstrip obn the Spratly Islands. Photo: Reuters

Tim Cook of Apple (above) will be among the US chief executives taking part in a round-table discussion with President Xi Jinping in Seattle on Wednesday. Photo: TNS

Images released by the FBI Sunday show five Chinese military officers charged with stealing trade secrets from U.S. companies. They are alleged to work with a shadowy Chinese military hacking unit. Photo: AFP

North Korean nuclear plant in Yongbyon. Photo: Reuters

Behind fairytale press, Chinese President Xi Jinping faces Goldilocks problem in America

Chinese President Xi Jinping (centre), Director of China International Economic Exchange Centre Zeng Peiyan (left) and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi meet US business leaders  at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Photo: AFP

People hold up photos of alleged victims of persecution during a protest in front of the White House ahead of the upcoming state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: AFP

President Barack Obama. President Xi Jinping's visit to the US has been complicated by the presidential primaries. Photo: TNS

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A name-card used by President Xi Jinping 30 years ago when he first visited the United States went viral online yesterday.


Xi's US Visit 2015