July 13, 2017: Sister Cities of Newport News welcomed three Chinese officials from ZiYang City in the Sichuan Province of China for a one-day visit to Newport News. The schedule included a meeting with Sister Cities leadership to discuss educational exchange opportunities for youth and site visits to Tech Center, the Newport News 911 Operations Room, and the Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute.

Mr. ZHOU Xian, Party Head of Ziyang CPC Committee, Mr. WANG Wanjun, Director of Ziyang Development Zone, and Mr. QING Minghua, Director of Ziyang Foreign Affairs & Overseas Chinese Office also met with members of the SCNN Board, City Manager Cindy Rohlf, CNU Provost Dr. David Doughty and received a community wide economic overview from representatives of Newport News EDA/IDA and Hampton Roads Economic Development Alliance.

The Sichuan Province, located in West China, has 21 cities (prefectures) and 183 counties (districts). ZiYang is a city of 3.5 million within that Province and has been in a “Friendship City” relationship with Newport News since 2005. Newport News is ZiYang’s only such international partner. Sister Cities of Newport News is a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to build and strengthen international cooperation, understanding and development between the citizens of the City of Newport News and those of the world.