US-China Sister Cities Summit held in Tacoma, Washington

Over 140 representatives from China and above 100 from US discuss shared opportunities and address common challenges

TACOMA, WASHINGTON:

The sixth US-China Sister Cities Summit was held on Friday in Tacoma, Washington, aiming to deepen friendships and enhance local-level exchanges between the two nations.

The summit, titled "Shared Visions for a Brighter Future," was co-sponsored by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Sister Cities International, a nonprofit organisation supporting sister city affiliations across the US. The event included panel discussions, keynote speeches, and case studies, bringing together over 140 representatives from 14 Chinese provinces and more than 100 representatives from 21 US states to discuss shared opportunities and address common challenges.

Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, emphasised the significance of sister city relationships in fostering mutual understanding and collaboration.

"Sister provinces/states and sister cities are vital platforms for promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the people of China and the United States, and crucial windows for deepening exchanges and cooperation for mutual benefit," Yang said. He noted that Tacoma and the state of Washington symbolise the enduring friendship between the two countries.

Yang highlighted the future potential of the sister city conferences to serve as bridges enhancing mutual trust, strengthening friendships, and deepening cooperation between local governments.

Tacoma, located about 50 kilometers southwest of Seattle, established a sister city relationship with Fuzhou, the capital of East China's Fujian province, in 1994. This year marks the 30th anniversary of their partnership.

Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards expressed optimism about future collaboration. "I truly believe that if we work together to address the challenges and opportunities ahead, we can create a bright and prosperous future for all our communities," she said. Woodards emphasized the importance of sister city relationships in building bridges of friendship and cooperation that transcend borders.

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng highlighted the summit's significance in a video message. "It is the first national, comprehensive event on China-US subnational exchanges held in the United States in five years. It also coincides with the tenth anniversary of the first China-US Sister Cities Conference and the 30th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Tacoma and Fuzhou," he said. Xie stressed the importance of strengthening the foundation for China-US relations through closer local exchanges and cooperation.

U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns also sent his congratulations to the summit. "Sister Cities relationships spur investment, expand educational and cultural exchanges, and encourage people to learn more about their counterpart cities through tourism," Burns said. He noted that it was heartening to see so many Americans and Chinese gathering in Tacoma to reinvigorate and expand people-to-people connections.

The previous five sister cities summits were held in Washington, D.C. (2014), Chicago (2015), Nanchang, China (2016), Houston (2019), and Suzhou, China (2023).

The establishment of sister city relationships between China and the United States began shortly after the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1979. Central China's Hubei Province and the US state of Ohio, as well as eastern China's Nanjing city and the US city of St. Louis, were among the first to forge such relationships.

Over the past 45 years, China and the United States have built 286 sister relationships at various levels.