News and Media – 2021 – Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee

15th Annual CHINA Town Hall – Baltimore
October 19th, 2021 at 7:00pm-8:00pm	The 15th annual CHINA Town Hall was hosted nationwide by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR) and in Baltimore by the Baltimore-Xiamen Sister City Committee. The 2021 event featured CNN host and best-selling author Fareed Zakaria in a national conversation on how the U.S.-China relationship affects our cities, towns, and communities. Registration was conducted via Eventbrite.
“Travel·Photography” Xiamen Sister City Photo Exhibition 2021
September 8th – October 30th, 2021	The BXSCC coordinated Baltimore’s participation in this concurrently in-person and virtual exhibit hosted by the Xiamen Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, the Xiamen People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the Xiamen Federation of Literary and Art Circles. The launching ceremony on September 8th was graced by the presence of Mr. Jiang Jiang, Vice President of China People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, several Ambassadors to China, and other distinguished guests. Ten photos from Baltimore were among the exhibition’s 200 photos from 25 foreign cities. These photos showcased how people around the world are uniting against COVID-19 and working hard to restore normality in life. The exhibit was on show from September 8th-14th in the Xiamen Museum, from September 15th-30th in Xiamen Library, and from October 16th-30th in the Xiamen’s Children’s Palace.
2021 Xiamen China International Fair for Investment & Trade (CIFIT)
September 8th to 10th, 2021	For the pandemic-era 2021 program, BXSCC supported CIFIT promotion efforts in the Baltimore/Maryland region. For the September 9 “Provinces-US States Green & Low-Carbon Cooperation Seminar and Matchmaking” forum, video greetings were sent from Baltimore Mayor Brandon M. Scott.
Our Home Too: A Forum in Support of Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Communities
May 27, 2021 at 7:00pm-8:30pm	May is Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM), a time when we recognize the history and achievements of Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities. Unfortunately, the 2021 celebrations were marred by increasing rates of targeted violence against AAPI individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic. These actions are rooted in our nation’s history of periodic exclusion, discrimination, racism, and xenophobia which have long been juxtaposed with the vitality, promise, and mutual benefit endowed by our diversity of backgrounds and experiences. Friends and allies joined Baltimore Sister Cities and our partners in solidarity, community and celebration as we honored the invaluable contributions of AAPI communities in Baltimore and Maryland. During this panel discussion, we explored what AAPI heritage means to all of us: How have AAPI communities contributed to Baltimore and American history? What are AAPI communities currently doing to contribute to culture, the arts, activism, and public service in our region? What new directions are they calling for? For more information, visit Our Home too.
Pratt Library Announcement
May 22nd, 2021 at 1:00pm-4:00pm	The Pratt Library celebrating all throughout May with an “Imagination Celebration” in its many branch libraries throughout Baltimore City. This interactive program was based on a children’s book, Everywhere Wonder, by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr. The BXSCC hosted a Take & Make Chinese Fan program: Attendees were invited to pick up a kit to make their own traditional Chinese folded fan. This kit was available at the Washington Village Branch on May 22 from 1pm to 4pm. For more information, visit Imagination Celebration.