– What’s New / Ongoing Programs –
2026 Youth Ambassadors Student Travel Program |
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| July, 2026 |
The BXSCC is pleased to announce preparations for the 2026 Youth Ambassadors Program!
Travel is tentatively scheduled from July 8 to 22, 2026. All Maryland high school-aged students were welcome to apply, with priority given to current Baltimore City Public School System students. Applications for the program will close by January 2026. For more information about the 2026 program, see the corresponding flyer below. For information about past years’ programs, see the program webpage.
To contribute to our students’ efforts, click the “Donate” button on the right of this page, then choose “Baltimore Xiamen” from the drop-down menu, and specify “Youth Ambassadors” in the “tell us why you donate” box. No amount is too small!
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BXSCC Announces 2026 Leadership Team |
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| November, 2025 – January, 2026 |
The BXSCC is pleased to welcome our leadership team for 2026. |
China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference and Baltimore-Xiamen 40th Anniversary Celebration in Xiamen |
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| October, 2025 | The BXSCC was honored to be invited to the 7th China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference in Hangzhou, China and 40th anniversary celebrations in Xiamen in late October 2025. The Hangzhou agenda included site visits and a kick-off concert by members of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra (BSO) as well as forums on educational exchanges, urban innovation and development, sustainable urban practices, and case studies of sister cities exchanges. The Xiamen agenda included an exchange between the BSO and Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra (XPO), the presentation of books on behalf of Baltimore’s Enoch Pratt Free Library (EPFL) to Xiamen Municipal Library (Jimei Branch), a 40th anniversary concert by members of the BSO, a pop-up concert by BSO members and Xiamen students on Gulangyu (Island), a meeting with Xiamen leadership, a visit to the tree planted by Mayors Schaefer and Zou in Wanshi Botanical Garden in 1985, a session with Port of Xiamen officials, and a visit to Shuangshi High School to discuss future education initiatives. Baltimore delegates on the trip included Hosea Chew (Director of Administration, Office of the City Council President), John Facelo (President, Baltimore Sister Cities, Inc.), Xin (Cindy) Wang (Chair, BXSCC), and long-time BSC member Manuel Knight. At the conference in Hangzhou, the state of Maryland was also represented by delegates from Montgomery County. A representative of the Maryland Department of Commerce joined for both the Hangzhou and Xiamen legs of the trip. In both Hangzhou and Xiamen, members of the Baltimore’s very own BSO performed at multiple concerts. We thank our hosts, members, and partners for the success of this trip as well as the successes of the first 40 years of the Baltimore-Xiamen relationship! |
The BXSCC Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the Baltimore – Xiamen Relationship |
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| 2025 |
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship between Baltimore, USA and Xiamen, China. |
– Other Highlights –
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Send-Off Concert |
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| Wednesday, October 8th, 2025 |
In Fall 2025, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra sent a delegation of five musicians to China to represent the Baltimore Symphony, City of Baltimore, and State of Maryland. In addition to special concerts and cultural exchanges in Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Xi’an, the tour included a performance in Xiamen celebrating the long-standing sister city relationship between Xiamen and Baltimore. A special Send-Off Concert was hosted at Baltimore City Hall on Oct 8. |
2025 Youth Ambassadors Student Travel Program |
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| Summer 2025 |
Seven Baltimore youth participated in the 2025 Youth Ambassadors Program, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee (BXSCC) and the 45th anniversary of the Maryland-Anhui Province Sister State Committee. From July 15th to August 1st, 2025, the delegation, which also included two teachers and two parent chaperones, traveled to seven cities throughout China, including Xiamen in Fujian Province; Huangshan, Anqing, and Hefei in Anhui Province; Nanjing in Jiangsu Province; and Shanghai. The Youth Ambassadors Program aims to develop student leadership by providing youth with the opportunity to learn what it means to be an international ambassador of peace and friendship at the local level. This year’s program played a significant role in commemorating the two sister anniversaries by connecting past relations to the future. The Foreign Affairs Offices of both Xiamen and Anhui hosted the Youth Ambassadors, who presented citations from City of Baltimore and State of Maryland leaders to their Chinese counterparts. This exchange program strengthens the friendship between the two regions and builds connections for the future. |
BXSCC Continues Partnership with Bard High School Early College – Baltimore
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| Fall 2024 to Spring 2025 | The 2024-2025 school year program included:
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Asia North 2025 |
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| May 2nd-31st, 2025 |
Asia North, a month-long series of arts and cultural events in Baltimore’s Station North Arts District commenced on Friday, May 2nd! The opening reception featured still life drawing, a zither performance, dragon dancing, South Asian dancing, and much more – and will also include catered food provided by the BXSCC. Further on in the Asia North series: The May 9th opening – with catered food – to the week-long “Veiled Forms” exhibit is being managed by the Baltimore-Kawasaki (Japan) Sister City Committee and supported by the BXSCC as well as the Baltimore-Changwon (South Korea) Sister City Committee. |
19th Annual National Committee on U.S.-China Relations CHINA Town Hall |
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| April 24th, 2025 |
National Speaker (via webcast): Matthew Turpin Lingling Wei Local Speaker (in person): |
