As the China-US Sister Cities Conference opens in Hangzhou this week, Baltimore City Council's Hosea Chew is bridging cultures through unexpected connections. During an interview, Chew showcased a traditional Chinese musical instrument he purchased locally, calling it a 'symbol of shared curiosity.'
'I've visited China eight times, and each trip reveals new layers of its dynamic culture,' Chew told KhabarAsia, emphasizing his role in strengthening Baltimore's 40-year partnership with Xiamen. The veteran administrator plans to exchange urban innovation strategies with Chinese counterparts during the conference.
The event brings together hundreds of delegates from 38 paired cities, highlighting grassroots diplomacy at a time of complex bilateral relations. Cultural exchanges like Chew's musical discovery underscore the program's enduring impact, with over 280 US-China sister city partnerships fostering economic and educational collaboration since 1979.
