Before meeting President Obama, the President of China will visit Washington, including a stop in Tacoma on September 23. As the News Tribune reports, President Xi Jinping will visit Tacoma’s Lincoln High School. His visit is an honor, and it emphasizes the importance of Tacoma in the U.S.-China relationship.

“Tacoma is an international port city,” as Mayor Marilyn Strickland says in a press release. The city has established economic, cultural, and educational ties with China, and President Xi previously visited Tacoma when he worked for Fuzhou nearly 21 years ago. He helped establish the Tacoma-Fuzhou Sister City relationship.

The Moon Princess poses at the Fuzhou Ting during Chinese Moon Festival 2014

Thanks to the people of Fuzhou, Tacoma’s waterfront features a beautiful Fuzhou Ting in the Tacoma Chinese Reconciliation Park.

The community will have several opportunities to engage with the Chinese delegation during their visit. As indicated in the World Affairs Council Tacoma’s recent newsletter, the World Trade Center Tacoma and World Affairs Council Tacoma will host several events for the Chinese delegation and Tacoma community:

• Reconciliation Park Celebration, Sept. 21, 9:30 a.m. at Chinese Reconciliation Park. Please arrive by 9 a.m. Free!
• Fuzhou-Tacoma Sister Cities photo exhibit, opening ceremony, Sept. 22, 10 a.m. at Old Post Office, 1102 A Street. Free!
• PNW-China Trade & Investment Summit Wine Social, Sept, 22, 6 – 8 p.m. at Old Post Office, 1102 A Street. Free!
• PNW-China Trade & Investment Summit Luncheon, Sept. 23, Noon to 1:30 p.m. at Hotel Murano, 1320 Broadway Ave. $40.
• World Affairs Council: Consular Association Reception, Sept. 24, 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. at Annie Wright Schools, 827 N. Tacoma Ave. $40 for members; $50 for nonmembers.

How excited is Tacoma about this historic visit? Check out this KING 5 video and KUOW radio broadcast about how Lincoln High School is preparing! Teacher Nate Bowling tweets:

Engage Northwest will be at many of these events — hope to see you there, too! Let’s give the Chinese delegation a warm welcome and show our appreciation for this wonderful, international relationship!

Lincoln HS gets ready for President Xi’s visit

For more information:

• Sept. 22-23 Pacific Northwest – China Trade and Investment Summit at the World Trade Center Tacoma
• Doing business with China through the Port of Tacoma and Northwest Seaport Alliance