This year I also traveled to many new places around China and the world for both business and leisure - in fact, I'm writing these lines sitting at my hotel room in Lhasa, still amazed by the beauty of Tibet. I've engaged in memorable conversations with people from numerous nationalities and cultural backgrounds who are pursuing their China dreams. Africans, Arabs, Chinese, Europeans, Americans, South Americans, you name it. The result is that I am as optimistic as ever about the future of the world. It is gratifying to see how many things all of us have in common. Yes, there are several global crises threatening us, but what brings us together is greater than what drives us apart. I truly hope 2017 finally brings peace to those who are in their darkest hours.

I saved the highlight of my 2016 for the end. This year, I got the opportunity to meet and briefly speak to President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People. Since it happened in October during the official visit of the President of Uruguay to China, I have told the story countless times to friends from all walks, and every time I do, I feel goose bumps all over my body just like I felt that day. It was a moment like no other in my China career thus far. It was, to say the least, a great motivational push for me to keep making my small contribution to help China learn more about the world, and the world about China, to put it in the words Xi used during his inauguration speech back in 2012.

To a great 2017 to everyone in the China universe!