Tacoma strengthens ties with Fuzhou

Fuzhou, a Chinese port city with a population of more than 6 million, is the capital city of Fujian province. Fuzhou and Tacoma have been sister cities since October 1994. “Our two regions have shared numerous exchanges to expand and strengthen trade and cultural ties,” said Port of Tacoma Commissioner Connie Bacon. “China is now Tacoma’s largest trading partner by both volume and by dollar value, and Fuzhou is a key gateway to this market.”

The Pilot Project is the brainchild of Yuan Rongxiang, chief executive of Fuzhou Municipality and chairman of the Fuzhou People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Li Hong, director general of the Fuzhou Foreign Affairs Office, and former City of Tacoma Council member Bill Evans.

A Steering Committee has been set up, with Tim Wen as the project’s contract trade representative in Fuzhou and Michael Fowler as contract project consultant in Tacoma. The Port will also host Fuzhou trade representative Guanghui ‘Arthur’ Liu of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Fuzhou Municipal People’s Government.