Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng sends a video message to the event. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]

The 7th China-US Sister Cities Conference opened in Hangzhou on Oct 27, with more than 300 representatives from 26 Chinese provinces and 28 US states attending.

The event underscores the enduring friendship and practical cooperation between Chinese and American local governments.

Yang Wanming, president of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, emphasized in his remarks the resilience and vitality of China-US sister city ties, citing 288 such relationships established since 1979. He called for continued people-to-people exchanges to deepen mutual understanding, foster youth engagement, and strengthen cooperation across trade, culture, and education.

Liu Jie, governor of Zhejiang, highlighted the province's economic strength, innovation, and openness. He noted that US investments in Zhejiang total 7,658 enterprises, while Zhejiang's investments in the US reached 1,795 enterprises, with bilateral trade hitting $104.2 billion in 2024. Zhejiang's sister city connections with 62 US states and cities further support education, cultural, and ecological collaboration.

Three US officials sent greeting letters to the event, including Maryland Secretary of State Susan Lee, who acknowledged the 40th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Baltimore and Xiamen. She also extended greetings to the five musicians from the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra performing at the conference, praising music as a universal language that transcends borders.

Guests attend the event. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]

The conference also featured a video message from Chinese Ambassador to the US Xie Feng, who reflected on historic milestones, including the 1972 Shanghai Communique signed in Hangzhou, and underscored the importance of people-to-people ties. Ambassador Xie outlined three key priorities: deepening mutual understanding, consolidating friendship to stabilize bilateral relations, and fostering sustainable cooperation to address shared challenges in areas such as agriculture, urban governance, and climate change.

The 7th Conference offers local governments a platform to explore innovative partnerships, strengthen cultural and educational exchanges, and promote long-term China-US relations grounded in mutual respect, cooperation, and shared prosperity.

A guest takes a cup of coffee from a robot dog. [Photo provided to ehangzhou.gov.cn]