Hangzhou, on the Chinese mainland, is buzzing with the spirit of partnership as the 2025 China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference kicks off. Many American delegates have gathered to exchange ideas and strengthen bonds across the Pacific.
Among them, Peggy Bridget Rubens, chair of the Sonoma-Penglai Sister City Committee, and her husband brought a taste of California’s wine country to the conversation. Yet it was the city’s vibrant anime scene that truly captured their imagination.
The couple’s visit to the China Cartoon and Animation Museum revealed a global phenomenon where storytelling and art unite fans around the world. Inspired by the creativity on display, Rubens is already uncorking new ideas: imagine joint anime screenings in Sonoma paired with curated wine tastings, or collaborative workshops where animators and winemakers share techniques and traditions.
Rubens says this fresh blend of pop culture and viticulture could deepen cultural understanding and attract younger audiences to both regions. Her proposal highlights the conference’s focus on innovative cultural exchanges that resonate with digital-savvy global citizens.
As the 2025 conference continues, all eyes are on Sonoma and Penglai, Shandong, to see how this spirited partnership will evolve—proof that when cultures toast together, new stories begin to flow.
Reference(s):
Beyond wine: Sonoma delegates toast anime, forge new bonds in Hangzhou
cgtn.com
