In the American city of Tacoma, a century-old institution is proving that the strongest bonds are often those built in the classroom. Lincoln High School has evolved into a poignant symbol of China-US friendship, maintaining a special connection that has spanned more than three decades.
Unlike formal diplomatic channels, this relationship has been nurtured through the shared experiences of youth: student exchanges, the trading of football jerseys, handmade artwork, and the rhythmic bounce of ping-pong balls. It is a testament to the power of people-to-people ties in fostering mutual understanding across vast distances.
The seeds of this partnership were sown in 1993, when Xi Jinping, then secretary of the Communist Party of China Fuzhou Municipal Committee, visited Tacoma and toured the Lincoln High School campus. This initial visit sparked a chain of events that would connect students thousands of miles apart for generations to come.
The momentum continued in 1994, when Tacoma and the city of Fuzhou officially became sister cities with the support of Xi. This strategic kinship was further solidified in 2008, when Lincoln High School established a formal sister-school partnership with a middle school in Fuzhou, opening a gateway for sustained exchanges in education, sports, and culture.
One of the most defining moments in this journey occurred in September 2015. During a state visit to the United States, President Xi returned to Lincoln High School. Although the visit was brief, its impact was profound. He presented the school with gifts, including ping-pong equipment, and invoked the historic legacy of "ping-pong diplomacy"—the sports exchanges that famously helped thaw China-US relations decades ago.
During his address to the students, President Xi emphasized the influence of grassroots interaction, stating, "Small ball moves the big ball." His words served as a call to the younger generation of both nations to carry forward the spirit of friendship and cooperation.
As we look at the landscape of international relations in 2026, the enduring bond between Lincoln High School and its partners in the Chinese mainland serves as a reminder that educational and cultural bridges can withstand the test of time, providing a foundation of trust and friendship for the future.
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Across the Pacific, a US high school keeps China-US friendship alive
cgtn.com
