Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Visit to Tacoma Concludes With Memorable Exchanges at Lincoln High

Tacoma, Wash. - Twenty one years after he personally witnessed the establishment of Tacoma's Sister Cities relationship with Fuzhou as Chairman of the Standing Committee of Fuzhou Municipal People's Congress, Xi Jinping visited Tacoma, Wash. on Sept. 23 as president of China. 

"Since his visit in 1993, Tacoma has evolved into an international port city that is a leader in education, the arts and environmental stewardship.  We have strong ties to China and have hosted more than 30 delegations from our sister city, Fuzhou. Education is a civic priority for our city and we want to raise our profile. By hosting President Xi Jinping at Lincoln High School last night, we did both," said Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland.

During his visit, President Xi Jinping interacted closely with students both in the gym and in a classroom, and spoke before a crowd of 500 people in the auditorium about the value of education and hard work. He also presented the students with gifts of books and ping pong tables, and a surprise invitation for 100 Lincoln High School students to visit China as his guests sometime next year.

During his visit to Tacoma, President Xi Jinping was accompanied by his wife, Madame Peng Liyuan.