Chinese President Xi Jinping encourages Italian students to become cultural ambassadors between the two countries in a letter of response to President Paolo M. Reale and students of Rome Convitto Nazionale Vittorio Emanuele II, an Italian boarding school.

The following is an English translation of the letter dated on Sunday:

Dear President Reale and students,

I have received your letter and I'm very pleased to see that the students can express themselves in fluent Chinese.

Your school has successfully opened a Chinese-language international scientific high school and nurtured a host of young men and women devoted to promoting China-Italy friendly relations.

In the letter, you said the Confucius Classroom program has provided you with an opportunity to have a closer look at China and enabled you to see the vastness of the world and the value of cultural diversity. This is a harvest you have reaped from learning and practice.

I highly appreciate your determination to promote dialogue of minds and cultural exchanges between the young generations of the two countries and cement the friendship between the two peoples.

I hope you will become modern-day Marco Polos, as cultural ambassadors between Italy and China in this new era.

Youth always goes hand in hand with dreams. You are going to graduate from high school and embark on college life. May all of you give full play to your youth and realize your dreams.

You are welcome to study and work in China, and I hope China will be the place where your dreams come true.

Sincerely yours,

Xi Jinping

President of the People's Republic of China

March 17, 2019