On June 14^th, the 20^th Anniversary of the founding of Luoyang-La Crosse Sister Cities was warmly celebrated in Luoyang No. 2 Foreign Language School. The guests presented there included Ms. Chen Shuxin, the deputy mayor of Luoyang, Ms. Gao Liping, Deputy secretary-general of the municipal government, Ms. Huang Xiaoling, the Director of Education Bureau, Mr. Zhang Songfeng, Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Office of the municipal government. Mr. Bai Fan, the Principle of Luoyang No.2 Foreign Language School also attended the ceremony.

Mr. Kabat, the Mayor of La Crosse with his municipal officers and La Crosse Luoyang Friendship Association attended in the celebration, UWL Student Delegation, principles from High Schools in Luoyang, teachers and students in Luoyang No.2 Foreign Language School who took part in the exchange program, parents whose children took part in the exchange program have also attended the ceremony.

In the speeches of the mayors of these two cities, they both expressed that, as the 20^th anniversary of their friendship, this year represents a new page and wish for a better future.

Meanwhile, according to the speech of Principal Bai, Luoyang No.2 Foreign Language School, University Wisconsin-La Crosse and La Crosse School District have been working very hard to maintain this long-term program working. With the effort of both sides, a lot of students benefit from it.

In order to show our greatest welcome, students in Luoyang No.2 Foreign Language School prepared some talent shows for our distinguished guests including a dance Girls In The Woods and a zither performance Blue and White Porcelain.

As another Chinese saying goes ”Love knows no distance, but all miles are neighbors.” Twenty years ago, Luoyang and La Crosse established our friendship. We have great achievements in education, health care under the partnerships of two cities. The flower of our friendship has become more and more beautiful. Today is a new start. In order to create a better future, let’s hold our hands tight and work more closely to welcome a new chapter in our friendship.

After the ceremony, a forum on education was held in the conference room. Ms. Huang Xiaoling, the Director of Education Bureau and some principals of high schools in Luoyang attended it with Mr. Kabat, the Mayor of La Crosse with his municipal officers. Ms. Huang Xiaoling introduced the development of education in Luoyang, and looked back into the past cooperation between two cities and schools. Mrs. Wycoff-Horn, Dean of the School of Education of UWL and Professor Anderson of Criminal Justice at Viterbo University gave a brief introduction of their own university.

In the end, the two parties further discussed on topics like application for universities overseas, introduction of international courses, establishment of sister schools and other cooperation in education and culture.