Attendees pose for a group photo at the fifth China-US Sister Cities Conference in Suzhou. [Photo/cpaffc.org.cn]

Since Nanjing and St Louis established the first China-US sister-city relationship in 1979, the two nations have built 288 partnerships between provinces, states, and cities.

Over the past decade, the China-US Sister Cities Conference has grown into a flagship platform for local-level cooperation, promoting mutual understanding and practical collaboration across the Pacific.

The conference, organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, has alternated between being held in China and the United States since its inaugural session in Washington, DC in 2014.

Each edition has expanded its focus — from public health and innovation to sustainable development — reflecting evolving priorities in both societies.

Notable milestones include the third conference in Nanchang in 2016, which produced the China-US Healthy Cities Declaration; the fourth in Houston in 2019, titled "40 Years Ahead: Stronger Friendship, Closer Cooperation"; and the fifth in Suzhou in 2023, which centered on green development and shared well-being. The most recent session, held in Tacoma, Washington, in 2024, marked both the conference's 10th anniversary and the 30th anniversary of Tacoma's sister-city ties with Fuzhou in East China's Fujian province.

The upcoming seventh China-US Sister Cities Conference will be held in Hangzhou from Oct 24 to 27. With its blend of rich heritage and digital innovation, Hangzhou will provide an inspiring setting for deepening city-level exchanges.

The event will focus on advancing cooperation in trade, technology, innovation, and sustainability, reinforcing the vital role of people-to-people exchange in shaping a more connected and resilient future for both nations.

The sixth China-US Sister Cities Conference. [Photo/cpaffc.org.cn]