Forty years. Two cities. One very special evening.
There are some events you attend because they sound interesting.
And then there are the evenings when you realize you are actually witnessing a little piece of Denver history.
On Monday, September 21, Denver Sister Cities International will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Denver’s Sister City relationship with Kunming, China—and an official delegation from Kunming is traveling to Denver to celebrate it with us.
Registration closes this Sunday, September 8th, and we want to make sure our community has the opportunity to be in the room.
Who will be joining us?
The Kunming delegation will be led by Vice Mayor Xu Gaohong and includes senior officials representing tourism, water resources, education and foreign affairs:
Zhang Lei — Deputy Director, Administrative Committee of Kunming Dianchi National Tourism Resort
Li Wei — Deputy Director, Kunming Water Resources Bureau
Li Yanmei — Director, Kunming Educational Admissions and Examinations Authority
Ying Wen — Chief, Protocol Division, Foreign Affairs Office of Kunming Municipal People’s Government
And we are honored that Denver Mayor Mike Johnston will plan to join us and offer remarks welcoming the delegation and recognizing forty years of friendship between Denver and Kunming.
But what makes this evening special isn’t simply who will be speaking.
It is who will be sitting around the tables.
Educators. Students. Nonprofit and community leaders. Business leaders. People interested in China. People interested in Denver. People who have participated in international exchanges—and people who have never experienced citizen diplomacy before.
You’ll have an opportunity to meet members of the Kunming delegation, hear about the extraordinary history between our cities and spend an evening in conversation with people who believe relationships between communities still matter.
This isn’t a conference.
And it isn’t simply a fundraising dinner.
It’s a chance to welcome someone to your city.
That is citizen diplomacy at its most basic—and perhaps its most important.
And students, we especially want you there.
We have made a special student ticket rate available because the next forty years of this relationship shouldn’t belong only to the people who built the first forty.
If you’re a student interested in international affairs, China, government, education, sustainability, tourism, diplomacy—or you’re simply curious about the world—this is an unusual opportunity to experience international relations somewhere other than a classroom.
Come meet the people actually doing the work.
What will the evening be like?
We’ll gather in the beautiful Turnhalle at the Tivoli Student Union on the Auraria Campus, beginning with a cocktail reception and cash bar from 5:00–6:00 PM.
At 6:00 PM, we’ll sit down for dinner by Biscuits and Berries, with your choice of beef, chicken or vegetarian entrée, followed by our anniversary program, remarks and celebration.
Parking on the Auraria Campus is validated and included with your ticket.
And throughout the evening, there will be something even more important happening:
People from two cities, thousands of miles apart, will be getting to know one another.
Denver and Kunming have been doing that since 1986.
Students have crossed the Pacific to attend one another’s schools. Artists have shared their work. Doctors and educators have exchanged ideas. Civic delegations have traveled in both directions. Denver sent a piece of Red Rocks to Kunming. Kunming sent Denver stones from its famous Stone Forest—and a magnificent bronze peacock that remains part of the story of our friendship.
Forty years later, we’re still showing up for one another.
Now we’d like you to be part of it.
Monday, September 21, 2026
The Turnhalle at Tivoli Student Union
Auraria Campus
5:00–6:00 PM — Cocktail Reception / Cash Bar
6:00–8:00 PM — Dinner & Program
Attire: Business Casual
Member, non-member and special student tickets are available.
Registration closes Sunday, September 6.
After that, we need to give our final numbers to the people preparing the evening, so please don’t wait if you would like to attend.
Come welcome our friends from Kunming.
Come meet people you might never otherwise have the opportunity to meet.
Come hear from the mayors of two cities connected by forty years of history.
And most importantly, come help us begin the next forty years.
REGISTER FOR THE DENVER–KUNMING 40TH ANNIVERSARY DINNER
Questions? Contact kunming@denversistercities.org
Denver Sister Cities International