Chinese President Xi Jinping announced Thursday that China plans to invite 100,000 young Americans to the country over the next five years for educational and cultural exchanges, making the proposal during his state visit with President Donald Trump at the White House.

“The hope of China-U.S. relationship lies in our people, and its future lies with the young,” Xi said before announcing the invitation.

“I am glad to announce an invitation for 100,000 young Americans to visit China for exchanges in study in the coming five years,” he added.

The announcement came as Xi and Trump met in Washington during Xi’s first U.S. state visit in more than a decade. The two governments have been seeking greater stability in their relationship while continuing to compete over trade, technology, artificial intelligence and national security.

Xi has previously made people-to-people exchanges a central part of his diplomatic message toward the United States. In 2023, he announced an initiative to bring 50,000 young Americans to China for exchange and study programs over five years, arguing that greater contact between younger generations could strengthen relations between the two countries.

The expanded proposal places American students and young people at the center of Beijing's effort to build closer ties with the next generation of Americans. Chinese officials have repeatedly described youth exchanges, tourism and educational programs as ways to increase familiarity between the two populations.

Xi arrived in Washington Wednesday and received an unusually high-profile welcome from Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Joint Base Andrews. The White House has described the visit as a significant moment in U.S.-China relations, with the leaders expected to discuss economic and security issues during the three-day state visit.

The outreach comes despite substantial disagreements between Washington and Beijing. The countries remain strategic competitors in advanced technology and continue to clash over issues including Taiwan, trade and China's relationship with Iran. Both governments have nevertheless sought to prevent those disputes from escalating into a broader breakdown in relations.