Journey to the West goes East and then back again

The process of making jasmine tea is displayed at a tea house in Fuzhou. QIN JIAHE/CHINA DAILY

"It's essential for teachers to effectively share their experiences and knowledge about China with their students, fostering a deeper appreciation and understanding of the country," he said.

Since first serving as chairman of the Tacoma-Fuzhou Sister City Committee in 2008, he has hosted more than 40 delegations from Fuzhou and promoted the sister-city relationship by encouraging people in the United States to learn about China and facilitating exchanges.

Like Youtz, Michael Fowler's connection with China spans decades. "I first visited China in 1979," said Fowler, managing director of the World Trade Center Tacoma, who has worked on Sino-US economic collaboration for many years. "Since then, every time I come, I am surprised by the nation's development."

In 2008 under the Tacoma-Fuzhou Trade Office Exchange Program, Fowler worked with three Fuzhou representatives who traveled to Tacoma to help small and medium-sized enterprises from both cities to benefit from the thriving sister-city relationship.