Sister Cities Bridge U.S.-China Relations

In a world where geopolitics often feels like a high-stakes chess match, sister cities are proving to be the ultimate friendship bracelets . Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Xie Feng spotlighted this 'people-first' diplomacy at the sixth U.S.-China Sister Cities Summit in Tacoma, calling these partnerships \"bridges for mutual understanding\" that thaw misunderstandings with every cultural exchange.

Why it matters: With 286 sister-city partnerships since 1979—from Tacoma’s 30-year bond with Fuzhou to student exchanges in Chicago—these ties are quietly reshaping U.S.-China relations. \"Drop by drop, we can melt the ice,\" said Xie, urging more collaboration amid current challenges.

U.S. Ambassador Nicholas Burns echoed the vibe, praising sister cities for sparking tourism, education programs, and cross-Pacific TikTok-worthy adventures . Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards summed it up: \"Our bridges transcend borders—literally and figuratively.\"

Milestone alert: The summit marked the 30th anniversary of Tacoma-Fuzhou ties and the first major in-person U.S.-China subnational meet since 2019. Over 240 reps from 14 Chinese provinces and 21 U.S. states brainstormed green energy, tech, and cultural win-wins.

What’s next? Expect more city swaps, student pen pals, and joint climate projects as both nations bet on grassroots diplomacy to keep the peace—and maybe share a few killer dumpling recipes .

Reference(s):

Sister cities inject vigor into China-U.S. ties, says Chinese envoy

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