Amid a complex bilateral relationship, city-level friendships remain an enduring bridge between China and the United Stated. At the China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference in Hangzhou, CGTN spoke with Carol Lopez, Chair Emeritus of Sister Cities International, on how people-to-people exchanges can help stabilize ties and foster new areas of cooperation. The Sister City program, established after World War II, was founded on a simple yet powerful idea: that mutual understanding and familiarity are key to preventing conflict.