A delegation from the Portland-Suzhou Sister City Association, led by Robert J Fraser, the former president of the association and receiver of the title "Suzhou's friend," visited Taicang to explore and strengthen collaboration in various fields. They received a warm welcome from the mayor.

The delegation's first stop was the Taicang Loujiang New Town Planning Exhibition Hall, where they learned about Taicang's economic and social development and progress on the new town's construction. Taicang's achievements in areas such as integration with Shanghai, Sino-German cooperation, and its development into a port-based logistics hub were fully introduced to the delegation.

The delegation was introduced to the products manufactured in Taicang and learned about Western companies' successful experiences in Taicang. Trane Technologies, an American manufacturer focused on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning and refrigeration systems, set up a manufacturing base in Taicang in 1995. Since then, it has continuously improved its product competitiveness through technological innovation, leading to increased market share and revenue.

Nike, a global sportswear company that opened a carbon-neutral smart logistics center in Taicang in 2023, also reported the progress it has made after 20 years of doing business in Taicang.

The delegation explored the company's commitment in intelligent and eco-friendly development.

Portland, as Oregon's largest city, and Suzhou, the most developed city in Jiangsu, became sister cities in 1988, fostering close ties in culture, education, and economics. And Taicang, a county-level city under the administration of Suzhou, has continued to deepen its collaboration with Portland, expanding cooperation in various sectors.