The Friendship Delegation from Anhui province held the 2023 Anhui Culture and Tourism Promotion event on December 19th in the U.S. state of Maryland. Over 100 participants attended, including Minister Jing Quan from the Chinese Embassy in the United States, Senator Clarence Lam of Maryland, representatives from American business communities, and teachers and students from the University of Maryland.
Attendees experienced a blend of Chinese and American cultures through interactive activities such as tea art demonstrations and performances by University of Maryland students showcasing Eastern and Western beverages. The event highlighted the cultural fusion and mutual appreciation between the two regions.
Anhui province and Maryland have been sister provinces since 1980, marking the first such relationship for Anhui. Over the past 43 years, the friendship between the two regions has yielded fruitful results in cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
Sun Yong, Deputy Provincial Governor of the People’s Government of Anhui, remarked that the longstanding friendship has been a testament to the strong cultural ties and mutual cooperation between Anhui and Maryland. “The friendly relations have been writing a wonderful story of cultural and people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States,” he said.
Minister Jing Quan emphasized that the event serves to promote people-to-people exchanges and enhance the friendship between China and the United States, aligning with the spirit of the recent meeting between Chinese and U.S. leaders in San Francisco. He noted that China is facilitating such exchanges through measures like increasing flights, simplifying visa application procedures, and advancing tourism and communication at various levels.
Senator Clarence Lam expressed that the exchange between Maryland and Anhui has a rich history with significant cooperation achievements. He hopes the event will further deepen cooperation in culture, tourism, and education between the two regions.
Reference(s):
Anhui and Maryland strengthen China-U.S. people-to-people exchanges
cgtn.com
