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“In a recent period of time, the number of foreigners in China has significantly increased,” Hu said.“The foreign tourists who were on the streets and at tourist sites were very friendly in general.”

“No matter why the attack was initiated, it was only a random case from a broad perspective in Chinese society,” he said.“I hope this incident will not create a negative impact on the exchanges between Chinese people and foreigners.”

Hu says in another Weibo post on Tuesday that foreigners have been victims of criminal assaults from time to time elsewhere in the world.

The attack happened after Chinese President Xi Jinping on June 6 called for increasing education exchanges and cooperation between China and the US. Xi said these exchanges will help promote mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries.

'First button of a shirt'

After Xi and US President Joe Biden met face-to-face in San Francisco last November, they failed to reach any agreement on trade and Taiwan matters. But they agreed to increase people-to-people exchanges.

Xi said at that time that China would invite 50,000 young people from the US to study in China over the next five years.

According to the US State Department, there are only 350 American students in China while more than 300,000 Chinese students are now studying in the US.

Early this year, Sarah Lande, a 85-year-old Iowa resident who had met Xi during his visit to the US back in 1985, wrote a letter to the Chinese leader, saying that some students in Muscatine in Iowa wanted to visit China. Within days, she received a reply from Xi, who invited Muscatine students and teachers to China for the first exchange.

In late January, a total of 24 students and four educators from the Muscatine High School enjoyed an eight-day China trip fully-funded by the Chinese government. In April, another batch of 32 students and eight teachers from the same school had a week-long trip to China.

In March, 24 students from Lincoln High School and Steilacoom High School in Washington also visited China.

In a video footage published by the state-owned media CGTN, Muscatine students say they love China, and that they are amazed by Chinese culture and achievements. One student called Xi“Yeye,” which means paternal grandfather in Mandarin.

Over the past two decades, China has offered many free or low-priced trips to young people in Hong Kong and Taiwan to show them the good side of the mainland. Some young people may have had good impressions of China after their trips. But some other travelers may have reacted more critically, as their teachers at home taught them to use different reference points in viewing China.

On April 17, a commentary published by the People's Daily said promoting people-to-people exchanges will help stabilize China-US relations.