MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — A Muscatine woman has been given a gold medal and a title from a Chinese group.
The Muscatine Journal says Sarah Lande has been dubbed a “friendship ambassador” by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. Lande is one of eight Americans to have received the title. The group began awarding the titles and medals in 1990.
Lande is an old acquaintance of Chinese President Xi Jinping. She and her husband, Roger, hosted Xi for a dinner when he visited Iowa in 1985. On Sunday and Monday she was a co-host for an official delegation from Hebei Province that visited Muscatine to celebrate 30 years of Sister State relations with Iowa.
Lande received her medal Sunday night during a banquet at Geneva Golf and Country Club.
