--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every President that went to China, I…" description: "\"Every President that went to China, I would meet them and have dinner and talk about the past and the future. That was in the '70s.\" — Jet Li" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/jet-li-9777_china_every-president-that-went-to-china-i-wou_2987769.png" --- # Every President that went to China, I would meet them and… ![“Every President that went to China, I would meet them and have dinner and talk about the past and the future. That was in the '70s.” quote by Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/jet-li-9777_china_every-president-that-went-to-china-i-wou_2987769.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/jet-li-9777_china_every-president-that-went-to-china-i-wou_2987769.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09e/jet-li-9777_china_every-president-that-went-to-china-i-wou_2987769.png) > “Every President that went to China, I would meet them and have dinner and talk about the past and the future. That was in the '70s.” [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Presidents visiting China foster dialogue about past and future, highlighting personal diplomacy’s role in international relations. **In simple terms:** Leaders use personal meetings to shape relations. Key Takeaway Value personal connections in diplomacy. Themes diplomacy personal interaction historical reflection Mood reflective optimistic Type historical political When to use this quote - political strategy - historical study - media interviews Key Concepts state visits cultural exchange Questions to Reflect On - How can personal rapport influence policy? - What limits personal diplomacy? A Different Perspective Personal meetings may not reflect broader policies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [China](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) [Dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner/) [Past](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past/) [Past And The Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/past-and-the-future/) [President](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/president/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I remember the last three days that I was president, I never went to bed at all. I never went to bed until we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-carter/i-remember-the-last-three-days-that-i-was-president-i-never-went-to/) [Jimmy Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-carter/) > [I always figured the American public wanted a solemn ass for president, so I went along with them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/calvin-coolidge/i-always-figured-the-american-public-wanted-a-solemn-ass-for/) [Calvin Coolidge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/calvin-coolidge/) > [I went to China for a brief working visit, and I thought that Shanghai was interesting, but Beijing totally grabbed me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-brigstocke/i-went-to-china-for-a-brief-working-visit-and-i-thought-that-shanghai/) [Marcus Brigstocke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-brigstocke/) > [From the first time that I went over to China, I think I was around the age of 17, 18, and just going there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soulja-boy/from-the-first-time-that-i-went-over-to-china-i-think-i-was-around/) [Soulja Boy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soulja-boy/) > [I like new experiences. It's one of the reasons I went to China.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manuel-pellegrini/i-like-new-experiences-it-s-one-of-the-reasons-i-went-to-china/) [Manuel Pellegrini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manuel-pellegrini/) > [The normal present connects the past and the future through limitation. Contiguity results, crystallization by means of solidification. There also exists, however, a spiritual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/novalis/the-normal-present-connects-the-past-and-the-future-through/) [Novalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/novalis/) > [Sometimes I feel the past and the future pressing so hard on either side that theres no room for the present at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evelyn-waugh/sometimes-i-feel-the-past-and-the-future-pressing-so-hard-on-either/) [Evelyn Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evelyn-waugh/) > [“Only by being present can you be happy. Too much attention to the past and the future takes the now away. And once it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-howe/only-by-being-present-can-you-be-happy-too-much-attention-to-the-past/) [Katherine Howe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-howe/) > [“I felt as though the past and the future, cause and effect, patterns and connections, were a huge complicated artifice, and it was only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-brashares/i-felt-as-though-the-past-and-the-future-cause-and-effect-patterns/) [Ann Brashares](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-brashares/) > [“Your body moves always in the present, the dividing line between the past and the future, but your mind is more free. It can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gleick/your-body-moves-always-in-the-present-the-dividing-line-between-the/) [James Gleick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gleick/) > [“The past and the future are not a collection of instants shared by all space, but a collection of events that correspond to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-alba-juez/the-past-and-the-future-are-not-a-collection-of-instants-shared-by/) [Felix Alba-Juez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-alba-juez/) > [“Inhale the present, exhale the past and the future.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leticia-rae/inhale-the-present-exhale-the-past-and-the-future/) [Leticia Rae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leticia-rae/) > [The past and the future become unimportant. There is only that moment, and the incredible certainty that everything under the sun has been written…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/the-past-and-the-future-become-unimportant-there-is-only-that-moment/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [“The past and the future were just blinders we wore so that infinity wouldn’t drive us mad.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/the-past-and-the-future-were-just-blinders-we-wore-so-that-infinity/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [“The past and the future are what's complicated. It's the present that's simple. And the simplicity is the sensation of it being just her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/the-past-and-the-future-are-what-s-complicated-it-s-the-present-that/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) ## More by Jet Li > [Everywhere I go, I still have time to meditate. People think meditating is sitting there, nobody bothering you, but you can even talk and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/everywhere-i-go-i-still-have-time-to-meditate-people-think-meditating/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [My wife is the boss at home, and my daughters are the bosses. I am just the worker. We are a very warm family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/my-wife-is-the-boss-at-home-and-my-daughters-are-the-bosses-i-am-just/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [Everything too fast is not good but everything too slow is also not good. You need balance. That's why I like martial arts: it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/everything-too-fast-is-not-good-but-everything-too-slow-is-also-not/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [This film 'Hero' talks about the peace of Chinese people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/this-film-hero-talks-about-the-peace-of-chinese-people/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [Tibetan Buddhism, has inspired me and accelerated my understanding of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/tibetan-buddhism-has-inspired-me-and-accelerated-my-understanding-of/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [Zhang Yimou is an artist. Sometimes we did only two or three shots a day because we were waiting for the sun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/zhang-yimou-is-an-artist-sometimes-we-did-only-two-or-three-shots-a/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [I think 'Hero' is not a real martial arts movie; it is not about violence, or formula.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/i-think-hero-is-not-a-real-martial-arts-movie-it-is-not-about/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [I remember when I was 11, I did some Kung-fu demonstrations in Hong Kong in 1974.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/i-remember-when-i-was-11-i-did-some-kung-fu-demonstrations-in-hong/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [While films are a very visual and emotional artistic medium, video games take it one step further into the realm of a unique personal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/while-films-are-a-very-visual-and-emotional-artistic-medium-video/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [I've been learning martial arts since I was 8 years old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/i-ve-been-learning-martial-arts-since-i-was-8-years-old/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [I need to talk about Chinese culture. We have deep, strong philosophy and culture. I want to share some information, tell the worldwide audience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/i-need-to-talk-about-chinese-culture-we-have-deep-strong-philosophy/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [I stepped into the martial arts movie market when I was only 16. I think I have proved my ability in this field and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/i-stepped-into-the-martial-arts-movie-market-when-i-was-only-16-i/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [Jackie Chan is a very good comedy/martial arts star. He does one kind of martial arts that Jet Li doesn't know how to do,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/jackie-chan-is-a-very-good-comedy-martial-arts-star-he-does-one-kind/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [In my mind, martial arts movies are martial arts movies and action is action. It's quite different, because martial arts doesn't just have physical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/in-my-mind-martial-arts-movies-are-martial-arts-movies-and-action-is/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) > [I want to thank my mum, my daddy, my coach, my teacher, everybody in my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jet-li/i-want-to-thank-my-mum-my-daddy-my-coach-my-teacher-everybody-in-my/) [Jet Li](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) [Explore all 69 Jet Li quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jet-li/) ## More China quotes > [I don't want to go into space because of war. I think we would if it was triggered. If China said they want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/i-don-t-want-to-go-into-space-because-of-war-i-think-we-would-if-it/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [ \[The Dalai Lama\] told me some years ago, "I've made every concession to China, and I've been as open and tolerant as I could,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pico-iyer/the-dalai-lama-told-me-some-years-ago-i-ve-made-every-concession-to/) [Pico Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pico-iyer/) > [One of the things the United States does well is building coalitions. What the U.S. knows is that if you don't have a coalition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shimon-peres/one-of-the-things-the-united-states-does-well-is-building-coalitions/) [Shimon Peres](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shimon-peres/) > [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/) [Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/) > [There is no precedent of an advanced economy withdrawing from a trade agreement as deep and as complex as the European Union.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-johnson/there-is-no-precedent-of-an-advanced-economy-withdrawing-from-a-trade/) [Jo Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-johnson/) > [In China, people are moving from bigger cars to small hatches, and interestingly, the Indian market is graduating to bigger cars and sedans. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winfried-vahland/in-china-people-are-moving-from-bigger-cars-to-small-hatches-and/) [Winfried Vahland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winfried-vahland/) > [Broken china lasts longer than unbroken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-renard/broken-china-lasts-longer-than-unbroken/) [Jules Renard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-renard/) > [Language is so specific to art, all the way to the past in China. Previously, people were not allowed to include various regional dialects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jia-zhangke/language-is-so-specific-to-art-all-the-way-to-the-past-in-china/) [Jia Zhangke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jia-zhangke/) > [I don't see why we and the Chinese should have to be enemies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/indira-gandhi/i-don-t-see-why-we-and-the-chinese-should-have-to-be-enemies/) [Indira Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/indira-gandhi/) > [India may be overtaking China as the world's most polluted country. Even now, which country is worse depends on the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-inskeep/india-may-be-overtaking-china-as-the-world-s-most-polluted-country/) [Steve Inskeep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-inskeep/) > [If China someday gains a more fair, just, and accountable system of government, it will be due to the hard work and efforts of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rebecca-mackinnon/if-china-someday-gains-a-more-fair-just-and-accountable-system-of/) [Rebecca MacKinnon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rebecca-mackinnon/) > [We're always willing to look at ways NAFTA can work better. But it's a fine line between looking at ways to make it work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-harper/we-re-always-willing-to-look-at-ways-nafta-can-work-better-but-it-s-a/) [Stephen Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-harper/) > [The situation with Tibet has to change. China is one of the last huge dictatorships, holding on to these colonies, provinces. That has to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-yauch/the-situation-with-tibet-has-to-change-china-is-one-of-the-last-huge/) [Adam Yauch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-yauch/) > [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [The remarkable thing about the Chinese is that they've operated differently than the Russians, the Iranians, and the North Koreans. By and large, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-e-sanger/the-remarkable-thing-about-the-chinese-is-that-they-ve-operated/) [David E. Sanger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-e-sanger/) [Browse all 3,827 China quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/china/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every President that went to China, I would meet them and have dinner and talk about the past and the future. 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