What stands out to an American lawmaker visiting China for the first time? 

"The world is bigger than we think, but it is also smaller," said Chris Stearns, Washington State House Speaker Pro Tempore, after visiting industrial innovation sites and historic neighborhoods in north China's Tianjin Municipality and taking in its beautiful riverside skyline.

In this conversation with CGTN reporter Guo Yan aboard a Haihe River cruise, Stearns shares his impressions and takeaways from the trip and reflects on the importance of preserving cultural heritage while embracing the future, the challenges of clean energy and sustainable urban development, and the opportunities for future cooperation.