Guest Blogger: Carla Walker, Sister Cities International Board Member and Chief of Staff for the Mayor of Cincinnati
Welcome to Liuzhou (Cincinnati’s Sister City)
We were welcomed at the airport by several city officials and staff of the Foreign Affiars Office and lots of alumni from our exchanges. They presented the Mayor with flowers.
Liuzhou and Cincinnati is recognizing its 20th year of friendship. During that time, there have been more than 50 exchanges and several awards by SCI including the Youth Exchange Award, the Technology Award and the SCI 50th Anniversary special Merit Award.
First stop was Longtan Park for a preview of the friendship garden Cincinnati and Liuzhou Parks Department have worked on for over a year. When we arrived, we could see Park staff busily adding finishing touches for Friday’s official ribbon cutting. The garden has two pavilions, one for each city and they are connected by a replica of Cincinnati’s Roebling Suspension bridge. Each pavilion includes artwork designed by Jan Brown Checco, a Cincinnati artist.
Cincinnati’s Pavilion
After the tour, a small delegation met with City officials. Mayor Mallory spoke for the Cincinnati representatives of the meeting which included the President Pro-Temp of Council, Park Board Director and Staff, Sister Cities representatives, alumni from Library , Medical, Educational and Arts exchanges as well as Park Board Foundation Board Members. We were greeted by the Local Secretary of the Party who stood in for the Mayor, the Liuzhou Vice Mayor, members of the Sister City organization and the leadership of the Foreign Affairs Office. The 30 minute official meeting was an opportunity to hear about industry, culture and anecdotes of Liuzhou. For instance, the person who lit the torch for the Olympics is from Liuzhou.
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