Hey there! Did you hear about the exciting event that just went down in Tacoma? 🌉 The sixth U.S.-China Sister Cities Summit brought together folks from all over to celebrate and strengthen the bonds between China and the United States. 🤝
Chinese Ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, gave a shoutout to the importance of sister provinces and cities between the two countries. He emphasized how these relationships act as bridges, fostering mutual understanding and trust. \"Drop by drop, we can thaw the ice of misunderstanding,\" he said, hoping to form \"a vast ocean of friendship between the two peoples.\" 🌊💙
This summit was a big deal because it's the first national event on China-U.S. subnational exchanges held in the U.S. in five years! It also marked the 10th anniversary of the first China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference and the 30th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Tacoma and Fuzhou. 🎉
Over 140 representatives from 14 Chinese provinces and more than 100 representatives from 21 U.S. states came together under the theme \"Shared Visions for a Brighter Future.\" They explored opportunities, shared insights, and tackled common challenges affecting communities in both nations. 🌏✨
U.S. Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, also sent his congrats, noting how sister city relationships \"spur investment, expand exchanges in education and culture, and encourage people to learn more about their counterpart cities through tourism.\" 🛫🎒
Victoria Woodards, the mayor of Tacoma, highlighted the power of these connections: \"Our sister city relationships allow us to build bridges of friendship and cooperation that transcend borders and bring all of our communities closer together.\" She believes that by working together, we can create a future that's bright and prosperous for everyone. 🌟
The summit was co-sponsored by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Sister Cities International. It's all about enhancing mutual trust, strengthening friendships, and deepening cooperation between local governments. 💪
With the world facing so many challenges, events like these remind us that building bridges—not walls—is the way forward. Let's hope for more oceans of friendship in the future! 🌐💕
Reference(s):
Sister cities inject vigor into China-U.S. ties, says Chinese envoy
cgtn.com
