To commemorate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of sister city relationship, the Government of Beijing Municipality and the Government of the District of Columbia co-hosted the “High Mountains and Flowing Water Concert of Guqin” at the Ronald Reagon Building and International Trade Center on the evening of November 21. Ambassador Cui Tiankai, Beijing Executive Vice Mayor Lin Keqing, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and Secretary Kimberly Bassett attended the event and delivered speeches. The event drew a crowd of 600 participants from various sectors of China and the U.S.

Ambassador Cui Tiankai said in his speech that the Chinese and American people have always held friendly feelings towards each other. For 40 years, friendship and cooperation have been a keynote of China-U.S. relations, and a lasting driving force for the relations to move forward. This year marks the 40th anniversary of the establishment of China-U.S. diplomatic relations and sister-city cooperation between us. Sister-city relationship is an important way to enhance the people’s friendship and sub-national cooperation. It provides a strong momentum for bilateral relations. Since Beijing and Washington DC were twinned in 1984, they have developed strong friendship with each other, and become a role model of sister-city exchanges. This also represents significant contribution to the bilateral relations. It is hoped that the two cities will continue to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation, and contribute to China-U.S. friendship.

Executive Vice Mayor Lin Keqing said that Beijing and the District of Columbia have been engaged in exchanges and cooperation in broad areas in the past 35 years. Friendship ties bond the peoples of the two cities together. The commemorative events will take this partnership to a new level.

Mayor Bowser said that the District of Columbia and Beijing have enjoyed fruitful cooperation over 35 years. China is now Washington DC’s largest source of overseas tourists, and Chinese language immersion program is growing popular among the city’s public schools. The two cities need to further deepen cooperation in tourism, direct flight, tourism and business.

Secretary Bassett said that the District of Columbia and Beijing set an example of U.S.-China sub-national cooperation. Sister cities cooperation can act as a bridge for mutual understanding and win-win cooperation between the two countries.

The concert begins with a chorus of Chinese song “I Love You, China” by 40 students from Alice Deal Middle School. The concert is a combination of traditional and modern, eastern and western artistic forms, with Guqin music as the highlight, accompanied by kunqu, morin khuur, cello, dance and taichi. It was warmly received by the audience.

On November 22, Beijing and the District of Columbia co-hosted the “Beijing Day Cultural Festival” at the Ronald Reagon Building. The festival featured the display of many intangible cultural heritages of China, such as paper-cutting, circular-fan making, cloisonné making and Qipao. It also had tasting of Beijing snacks and a “Charming Beijing” photo exhibition, etc. Over 1,000 people visited the festival and experienced the charm of Chinese culture.