By BECKY KISER
Hays Post

Hays and Xinzheng, China, are Sister Cities.  Each city has sent delegations in the past, and Hays Mayor Kent Steward is sending an official letter to the mayor of Xinzheng suggesting another visit by Hays residents.

The Sister Cities relationship evolved because Xinzheng is home to Sias International University, which has an educational partnership with Fort Hays State University.

The trip to China, tentatively scheduled to begin April 6 and last 10 days, would be expanded into a trade mission.  Xinzheng, although much bigger than Hays with 600,000 residents, is located in Henan Province, a major wheat-growing and aircraft-manufacturing region.  Henan Province and the state of Kansas are Sister States.

Although no city staff members are expected to participate, City Manager Toby Dougherty says Commissioner Henry Schwaller has expressed interest in traveling to Xinzheng:

The Ellis County Coalition for Economic Development and the Hays Sister Cities Committee also have expressed interest in participating.

Community members are invited to apply to be delegates. An informational meeting about the trip will be held tonight at 6p.m. in Hays City Hall.

For more on the trip, click HERE.