An aerial view of Tacoma, Washington. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A delegation from Tacoma, Washington, led by Mayor Anders Ibsen, visited Fujian province and completed a two-day visit to Fuzhou on April 8. The visit marked the 32nd anniversary of the sister-city relationship, established in 1994 between the two port cities. Since the partnership began, the two cities have carried out more than 100 exchange visits revolving around trade, culture, education, and sports.

During the visit, Ibsen focused on urban development and green technologies, noting Fuzhou's high rate of electric vehicle (EV) adoption. The mayor, who has worked on EV incentive policies in Tacoma, cited the potential of clean energy technologies to improve air quality and make travel more convenient and affordable.

Ibsen and delegation members visit the campus of the Affiliated High School of Fuzhou Institute of Education. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The itinerary included a visit to the Affiliated High School of Fuzhou Institute of Education, which has a formal partnership with Tacoma's Lincoln High School. Ibsen also visited Kuliang (also known as Guling) and sent postcards from the Kuliang Post Office. He said they were working together to promote youth pairing exchanges and deepen cooperation in art, culture, and the economy, demonstrating how the two sides have more similarities than differences.

Both sides identified opportunities for future collaboration in sustainable urban planning and low-carbon port operations. Fuzhou recently received the Global Award for Sustainable Development in Cities, while Tacoma is regarded as one of the most walkable cities in the United States. Ibsen praised the close ties between the two cities and expressed his hope for further deepening exchanges and cooperation.