CRI听力:Seattle Ready to Host Xi

Many Chinese got to know Seattle through two films: Sleepless in Seattle and Finding Mr. Right.

Now, the city comes back into the limelight with Chinese President Xi Jinping set to arrive for his first official state visit to the United States.

Seattle Mayor Edward Murray is proud of the role his city plays in boosting bilateral trade and cooperation.

"When the United States and China normalized relations, the first ship from China came to Seattle. Washington State is where Seattle sits. Our No.1 trading partner is China and we do more trade with China than any other state in the United States. In addition, we have a large Chinese-American population and feel proud of their heritage. And we share so many things in common in regard to our technology, our interest in innovation and addressing issues of climate sustainability."

Tao Wenzhao with Chinese Academy of Social Sciences says there are multiple reasons for the city to be picked as the first stop of President Xi Jinping's visit.

"Seattle plays an important role in boosting trade, commercial and academic exchanges between China and the US. We know the city is home to giant companies like Boeing and Microsoft. So it's not strange for the city to become President Xi Jinping's first stop this time."

During his time in Washington State, the Chinese leader will also make a stop in the port city of Tacoma

Tacoma City formed sister-city ties with China's Fuzhou City 21 years ago with the support from Xi Jinping, the then party chief of Fuzhou.

Connie Bacon, commissioner of Tacoma Port, still keeps photos she took with Xi Jinping after the signing ceremony for the sister-city agreement over two decades ago.

Bacon will be present at the welcome dinner held for President Xi Jinping when he visits the State of Washington.

She says she will like to express her gratitude to Xi Jinping.

"I wanted to thank him for his support in making the sister city arrangement happen. Because had he not been willing, it wouldn't have happened. And because it happened, we have the long-standing, very successful, very mutually beneficial opportunity."

China is a significant source of income for Washington State.

Trade between the state of Washington and China hit close to 3-billion yuan last year.