Mayoral Delegation Visit to Suzhou, 2013

SUZHOU, CHINA October 2013 The Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office hosted the Portland Mayoral Delegation Visit of 20 participants representing education, culture and trade in Suzhou October 26 to 30.

Visits were arranged with the Port of Taicang, Mayor of Taicang, the Nike Distribution Center, Shanghai/Suzhou American Chamber of Commerce, the Suzhou Singapore Industrial Park, Mayor and Vice Mayor of Suzhou, the China Energy and Environmental Protection Agency, the Suzhou Municipal Education Bureau, the Suzhou Garden Development Company and Suzhou Design Institute Company, the Suzhou Daily Group, the Suzhou Foreign Affairs Office and a performance of Romeo and Juliet by the Suzhou Ballet Theatre.

The Suzhou Daily Group hosted PSSCA’s 25^th Anniversary Trails of Bliss poetry and photography exhibit at the wonderful Tongli International Cultural Exchange Center.

25th Anniversary Evening Under the Stars Gala 2013

Portland-Suzhou Sister City Association celebrated its 25th Anniversary Evening Under The Stars Gala at the Lan Su Chinese Garden Wednesday evening August 21, 2013. Twenty delegates, performers and artisans traveled from Suzhou China to attend PSSCA’s 25^th Anniversary Gala. Commissioner Amanda Fritz represented Portland City Hall and welcomed the delegation from Suzhou on this very special, celebratory occasion.

For the very first time in Portland, a sampling of the world renowned Suzhou Peony Opera, dating back to the Ming Dynasty was performed in the beautiful costumed tradition of the Kunqu Opera. Demonstrations of Suzhou silk embroidery and calligraphy were on hand as well as a “City Dreamscape” Exhibition at City Hall. The Gala would not be complete without a Chinese Dragon and Lion Dance.

Gate to the Garden and Gala opened at 6:30 pm at the same time the Silent Auction opened. Traditional Chinese music from the boat house and service from the wine bar was also provided, followed by a sumptuous buffet at 7 pm, and entertainment and program from 7:30 pm to 9 pm.

Suzhou Calligraphy Exhibition 2013

United States Exhibition of Wu School Calligraphy

On the occasion of the 25^th anniversary of the two cities, in order to further promote the cultural exchanges and increase the friendship between Chinese and US people, calligraphers from Suzhou visited Portland with sincerity to display 30 newly created pieces.  Suzhou hereby wishes the friendship between US and China everlasting. Suzhou is a noted historical and cultural city in China and the calligraphy in Suzhou is richly endowed by nature. “Wu School Calligraphy” in Ming Dynasty enjoys high reputation at home and abroad and forms the flourishing scene of “all the calligraphy schools in China regard Suzhou as forefather”.

      

Now Suzhou Calligraphy school has inherited the good traditions, carried forward the urban spirits of “cherishing literacy and wisdom, being open-minded and tolerant, seeking for excellence creation and accomplishing everlasting harmony” to dive into the innovation of calligraphy.  The calligraphy creation keeps harmonious development with the academic and educational activities. In December, 2007, Suzhou was honorably selected as the first “Noted Calligraphy City” in China, which unveils the new historical chapter of Wu School calligraphy.

Portland and Suzhou signed the sister-city agreement in June 1988 and for the past 25 years, both cities have achieved outstanding achievements in culture, education, garden and economic cooperation and exchanges.

August 2013