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A group of youth ambassadors from Yangzhou traveled to its sister city of Kent, Washington, in late August for a nearly two-week exchange program, strengthening ties between the two cities.
Yangzhou youth ambassadors meet with Dana Ralph (second from right), the mayor of Kent. [Photo/WeChat account: yzwsxlt]
Kent mayor Dana Ralph warmly welcomed the Yangzhou delegation, highlighting more than three decades of friendship between the two cities and the importance of their annual youth exchange program.
She said young people are key to future city-to-city exchanges and encouraged the envoys to become ambassadors for cultural exchange and carry the friendship forward.
During their stay, the group visited the Yangzhou Park, a key stop for generations of youth envoys to learn about the history of friendship between the two cities.
The visitors also explored museums and innovation-driven companies in Kent and the greater Seattle area, gaining first-hand insights into local culture, technology and innovation.
They stayed with local host families as well, experiencing local customs and way of life firsthand.
The Yangzhou-Kent Youth Ambassador Exchange Program was launched in 1995 and has since provided a regular platform for youth exchanges between the two cities. Every summer, youths from Yangzhou and Kent visit each other's cities for study tours, cultural activities and homestays.
The latest exchange highlights the enduring friendship between Yangzhou and Kent while offering young people on both sides an opportunity to learn from one another. Yangzhou will continue to expand international youth exchanges and build more platforms for people-to-people connections, helping to foster bonds between the two cities.
