Imagine a century-old high school in Tacoma, USA, that serves as a living bridge across the Pacific. For over 30 years, Lincoln High School hasn't just been about textbooks and exams—it's been a symbol of friendship between the US and the Chinese mainland, proving that connection happens best in the classroom and on the court. 🌍🤝
The story is a total throwback to 1993. That's when Xi Jinping, who was then the secretary of the Communist Party of China Fuzhou Municipal Committee, visited Tacoma and toured the campus. What started as a single visit sparked a decades-long bond between students separated by thousands of miles.
Things leveled up in 1994 when, with Xi's support, Fuzhou and Tacoma officially became sister cities. By 2008, Lincoln High School took it a step further by establishing a sister-school partnership with a middle school in Fuzhou. Since then, the two schools have been swapping more than just emails—they've shared sports, art, culture, and plenty of handmade paintings. 🎨🏀
One of the most iconic moments happened in September 2015. During his state visit to the United States, President Xi returned to Lincoln High. He didn't come empty-handed; he brought a ping-pong table and gear, paying homage to the legendary "ping-pong diplomacy" that helped restart China-US relations years ago.
His message to the students was simple but powerful: "Small ball moves the big ball." 🏓 It was a reminder that small gestures of friendship and youth exchange can lead to massive global impacts.
In a world that often feels divided, the bond between Tacoma and Fuzhou shows that when young people connect through shared passions, the distance across the ocean doesn't seem so wide after all. ✨💬
Reference(s):
Across the Pacific, a US high school keeps China-US friendship alive
cgtn.com
