A new Flying Tigers Friendship School and a Youth Leadership Program were launched in Liuzhou, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, recently, to honor the legacy of Flying Tigers and deepen the friendship of the younger generations of China and the United States.

"It is dreamlike for me to shake hands and communicate with the Flying Tigers veterans," said Qin Xianlan, a student from Huxi Experimental Middle School in Liuzhou, Guangxi.

In 1941, General Claire Lee Chennault of the US established the "American Volunteer Group" (Flying Tigers) of the China Air Force to fight against Japanese aggressors together with the Chinese military and civilians.

During their mission to support China, over 2,000 American Flying Tigers members sacrificed their lives in battle, and more than 200 were rescued by the Chinese people.

A delegation of 32 Flying Tigers veterans, their relatives and members of the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation visited Liuzhou from Nov 4 to Monday to share the legacy of Flying Tigers and strengthen communication between Chinese and American youth.

On Sunday, the delegation visited Huxi Experimental Middle School and witnessed the launch of the Flying Tigers Friendship School and the Youth Leadership Program.

In September 2022, the program was unveiled by the Sino-American Aviation Heritage Foundation, in cooperation with the Consulate General of China in San Francisco, at the Jack Lund Schofield Middle School in Las Vegas in the US.

The school's mascot is the "Flying Tigers" in honor of that legacy. The foundation has promoted the formation of "friendship schools" in cities across several provinces of China. Zhijiang Dong autonomous county No 4 Middle School in Hunan province is the latest to join the program.

In June, Huxi Experimental Middle School held an online signing ceremony with Jack Lund Schofield Middle School and became one of its Flying Tigers Friendship Schools.

This program establishes an incentive fund to reward young people in China and the US in various forms, so that they can enhance their understanding through mutual communication and learning, said Jeffrey Greene, chairman of the Sino-US Aviation Heritage Foundation.

After the current program concludes, both sides will organize mutual visits for teachers and students, and hold a variety of joint activities, all intending to promote greater interaction between the two nations through increased recognition of the historical significance of the Flying Tigers.

"When American students and Chinese students communicate face-to-face and hand in hand, a connection will be established," said Nell Calloway, granddaughter of General Chennault.

On entering Huxi Experimental Middle School, elements of the Flying Tigers can be seen everywhere. The students have combined such elements with traditional Chinese crafts like tie-dyeing, folding fans and kites, and presented them as gifts to the representatives of the Flying Tigers.

Touched by the enthusiasm of the Chinese students, 103-year-old veteran Harry Moyer and Melvin McMullen, 98, shared with the students Flying Tigers' stories dating back to the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45).

Eight decades ago, Chinese and American people forged a deep friendship that withstood the test of blood and fire, and "the friendship between the Chinese and American people will always exist", said Moyer, who celebrated his 103rd birthday in Beijing on Oct 30.

zhangli@chinadaily.com.cn