To commemorate the 45th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Philadelphia and Tianjin, China, the Philadelphia City Government and the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia successfully hosted a business and cultural exchange event on the afternoon of April 23 in the reception room of Philadelphia City Hall. The event deepened the friendly cooperation between the two cities through art, music, cultural exchanges, and culinary displays. Philadelphia City Council representatives Mark Squilla (1st District) and Mike Driscoll (6th District) presented a city council resolution celebrating the return of the Tianjin delegation to Tianjin Vice Mayor Liu Guiping.
Since establishing sister city ties in 1979, Philadelphia and Tianjin have maintained close exchanges and cooperation. The celebration event specially invited a delegation led by Tianjin Vice Mayor Liu Guiping to visit Philadelphia and explore new opportunities for future collaboration. Consul General Huang Ping of the Consulate General of China in New York attended the event at Philadelphia City Hall and delivered a speech. Also present were Tianjin Executive Vice Mayor Liu Guiping, Philadelphia City Ambassador Jones, Commerce Director Martinez, city council representatives, and over 150 guests from various sectors including politics, business, culture, and education. Prior to the event, Huang Ping and Liu Guiping held discussions with Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker.
Huang Ping stated that in 1979, Tianjin and Philadelphia established their sister city relationship following the normalization of Sino-US diplomatic relations. Philadelphia was Tianjin's first sister city in the United States, and Tianjin was Philadelphia's first sister city in Asia. Over the past 45 years, the two cities have cultivated fruitful cooperation, and the story of their people-to-people exchanges is entering a new chapter.
Huang Ping emphasized that the interactions between Tianjin and Philadelphia are a microcosm of US-China civil exchanges and a model of local cooperation between the two countries. Their experience offers valuable lessons: first, treating each other as partners to explore collaborative opportunities; second, enhancing cultural exchanges and promoting people-to-people interactions; and third, maintaining mutual efforts to build bridges of friendship. Looking ahead, both sides should further share the story of Tianjin-Philadelphia friendship, create more opportunities for local and civil exchanges, and strengthen the bond between the peoples of the two nations, brightening the prospects of US-China relations.
Liu Guiping noted that Tianjin and Philadelphia share similar development conditions and vast potential for cooperation. Despite challenges, their friendship has endured and grown stronger. He proposed establishing stable exchange mechanisms to provide comprehensive support for the sister city relationship, deepening economic and trade ties, encouraging US enterprises in Tianjin to expand their presence, and fostering more collaborations between universities and youth exchanges.
City Ambassador Jones presented an award on behalf of the Philadelphia City Government, declaring April 23, 2024, as "Tianjin Sister City Day" to welcome the Tianjin delegation. City Council representatives Squilla and Driscoll announced a city council resolution highlighting the importance of US-China relations and the role of the Tianjin-Philadelphia sister city relationship in promoting cooperation across various fields. They expressed their commitment to serving the Chinese community and advancing Philadelphia's engagement with China.
During the event, representatives from both cities exchanged ideas on business environments, youth exchanges, and cultural services. Performances by the Tianjin Peking Opera Troupe and the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra added a vibrant cultural touch, concluding the nearly three-hour celebration on a high note.
(Source: Consulate General of China in New York Official Account, Haihua Urban Daily Reporter Wendi Wu)
