[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 18]
[Senate]
[Page 25790]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 COMMEMORATING THE AGREEMENT FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF SISTER RELATIONS 
  BETWEEN THE STATE OF MONTANA, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND GUANGXI 
          ZHUANG AUTONOMOUS REGION, PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

 Mr. BAUCUS. Mr. President, I rise today to commemorate the 
establishment of the sister-state relationship between my home state of 
Montana and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic 
of China.
  The establishment of this sisterhood marks a successful conclusion to 
many years of building mutual cooperation, trust and friendship, as 
well as a bright beginning of a continued strong relationship between 
our countries.
  I would like to commend Governor Marc Racicot of the State of Montana 
for his continued efforts to bring new opportunities to the state 
through education, business relations and cultural exchanges. I would 
also like to thank the People's Republic of China and Governor Li 
Zhaozhuo for linking Guangxi Province to Montana. The richness of 
culture, citizens, history, and boundless environmental beauty make our 
state and your province a perfect match.
  Montana and Guangxi have worked a long time in building this 
relationship. In fact, a high level delegation from Guangxi Province 
joined the first Mansfield Pacific Retreat on ``Trade and 
Agriculture,'' held in Bigfork, Montana, in May 1996.
  The idea of establishing friendly exchange relationships between 
American states and cities and Chinese provinces and cities goes back 
to the late 1970s when China, as a country, began to ``open up to the 
outside.'' These sister relationships have proved to be very helpful in 
establishing cultural and grassroots relations. A good example is the 
product relationship between the city of Seattle and Chongqing in 
Sichuan Province.
  The establishment of Montana's sister ties with Guangxi Province in 
South China fits within this tradition of promoting people to people 
communication. Such a relationship is especially relevant to Montana 
because of the life, work, and legacy of Mike Mansfield. He is 
Montana's ``favorite son'' who has also made a name known for himself 
in China. His promotion of sister relationships with Asia began during 
his tenure as American Ambassador to Japan. He proposed and helped to 
establish Montana's sister relationship with Kumamoto Prefecture. He 
also established the University of Montana's sister relations with Toyo 
University in Tokyo and Kumamoto University in Kumamoto City.
  Although Senator Mansfield is better known for his promotion of 
mutual understanding with Japan, his impact on American Chinese 
relations is also significant. His interest in East Asia began when he 
served in the U.S. Marines soon after World War I and visited the 
American Garrison then in the city of Tianjin.
  Senator Mansfield continued his work in the Far East as a Congressman 
from Montana. He visited China at the request of President Roosevelt to 
report back with advice on American policy following the defeat of 
Japan in the Pacific War. He is also credited with opening relations 
with China in the early 1970s and he was the first American Senator to 
visit China, soon after President Nixon's historic visit in 1972. The 
current ties between Montana and Guangxi are a fitting expression of 
the value of people to people communication between America and China. 
They are also a fitting tribute to the legacy of Senator Mansfield.
  Finally, I was pleased to have the opportunity to visit Guangxi's 
beautiful city of Guilin last summer during President Clinton's visit 
to China. I was impressed by the great efforts the Guangxi's citizens 
have taken to ensure that their children and generations to come will 
continue to enjoy the natural wonders and beauty of their province. We 
in Montana also take such pride in our state's natural treasures--our 
mountains, our lakes and our wildlife.
  I am very proud of the establishment of Montana and Guangxi's 
sisterhood. This is just the beginning. As we enter the new Millennium, 
let us strive to build and strengthen our sisterhood relationship as a 
model for cooperation and understanding.

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