HOUSTON, Nov. 7 (Xinhua) -- The communication between China and the United States cities has become an important part of China-U.S. relations, Chinese Consul General in Houston Cai Wei said in San Antonio, U.S. state of Texas.
A six-and-a-half-ton Taihu rock was unveiled in San Antonio Museum of Art Wednesday night. The Taihu rock from the Lake Tai region in Jiangsu province of China was given to the City of San Antonio by its Chinese sister city, Wuxi.
Wuxi and San Antonio have been sister cities since 2012.
"We are glad to see the precious rock be placed along the lovely and tranquil riverside as a unique decoration of the city and a symbol of the long-lasting friendship of the two cities," Cai said at the ceremony.
There are 227 pairs of sister cities established between China and the Unite States since the two countries established diplomatic ties four decades ago, representing the progress made in the bilateral exchanges at the city level, Cai said.
"The dedication of the Taihu rock is a symbol of building up more connections and platforms to facilitate people-to-people exchanges and mutual understandings and a boost to promote the friendly, healthy and steady development for the bilateral relations," Cai said.
Dozens of people from the Chinese Consulate General in Houston, the Wuxi delegation and the San Antonio Museum of Art attended the ceremony.
