As the sun rose over Tianjin in China and set over Philadelphia, a shared spirit of kinship filled the air on April 23 as both cities celebrated their 45 years of sister-city ties at a celebration in Philadelphia’s City Hall.

Relations between Philadelphia and China strengthened in 1973 when President Richard Nixon authorized The Philadelphia Orchestra as the first American orchestra to perform in the People’s Republic of China. In December 1979, Philadelphia forged a sister-cities relationship with Tianjin, marking one of the earliest such ties between a U.S. and a Chinese city.

Throughout the decades, the cities’ support for one another grew. Tianjin gifted Philadelphia the Friendship Gate, a symbolic entrance to Philadelphia’s Chinatown crafted with tiles from Tianjin.

To commemorate the 45th anniversary of this bond, a delegation from Tianjin visited its sister city. The delegation’s visit began with a meeting with Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker in the morning. On Tuesday evening, the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia hosted a delegation from Tianjin at the Philadelphia-Tianjin Business and Cultural Exchange Event in the Mayor’s Reception Room, featuring art, music, exchanges, and culinary delights.

The event explored ways to deepen Philadelphia’s cultural, educational, and commercial collaborations with Tianjin, with remarks by Tianjin Deputy Mayor Guiping Liu, Philadelphia City Representative Jazelle Jones, Consul General of New York’s Chinese Consulate Ambassador Ping Huang, Commerce Director Alba Martinez, and World Affairs Council of Philadelphia President and CEO Lauren Swartz.

Philadelphia Councilmembers Mark Squilla and Michael Driscoll announced a resolution honoring and celebrating the return of the Tianjin delegation to Philadelphia on April 23 and the 45th anniversary of becoming sister cities. They also shared that the City Council is in the process of proclaiming May 2024 as Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month in Philadelphia.

To display the educational connection between the two cities, three Philadelphia high school students from the World Affairs Council’s virtual citizen diplomacy academy exchange program presented the benefits of learning about a new culture on the other side of the world.

As the event ended, artistic institutions representing both cities performed for the audience. The Tianjin Theatre gave two lively Chinese opera performances, while a string trio of the Philadelphia Orchestra presented a classical suite.

The exchange encouraged tourism both between the two cities and the two nations. Gregg Caren, President and CEO of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau — the organization responsible for driving international events and visitation to Philadelphia — said the delegation is a strong step in enhancing tourism between Tianjin (and China more broadly) and Philadelphia.

“China is a key international source market for Philadelphia tourism, and we continue our investment of comprehensive sales, marketing, and public relations activities to promote the city as a welcoming and friendly destination for travelers,” he said. “As we strengthen ties between China and Philadelphia, we’re not only opening doors for visitation but also for mutual understanding and friendship.”