Iowan old friends

Chinese Vice-president Xi Jinping (L) talks with farmer Rick Kimberley as they sit in the cab of a tractor in Des Moines, Iowa, Feb 16, 2012. (Xinhua)

Sitting by a fireplace in the Kimberley family's living room 40 miles northeast of Des Moines, Vice-President Xi Jinping chatted with the Iowan family about life on their farm.

Returning to a state he had visited 27 years ago as a young official of Hebei province, Xi was wrapping up a tour through Iowa during his five-day visit of the United States. In 1985, Xi led a delegation to Iowa to learn about agricultural technologies.

The highlight of the tour came when the Kimberley family showed Xi one of their green John Deere tractors. To everyone's surprise, Xi climbed up into the tractor and sat in the driver's seat.