Rick Blangiardi and his wife, Karen Chang, take a photo with the staff members in Fuzhou Panda World. [Photo by Qiu Yuwen / for chinadaily.com.cn]

Recounting a moment when a student from Fuzhou No 3 High School — sister school to Honolulu's 'Iolani School — asked for his autograph, Blangiardi said he was deeply impressed by the energy of the students and faculty.

"The whole idea is to create a future," he said, "Young people will grow up with an association with Honolulu, just as Honolulu has an association with Fuzhou."

Following his trip in Fuzhou, Blangiardi is scheduled to visit Chengdu, Sichuan province, the home of world-renowned giant panda conservation and research programs, from Sunday to Tuesday. The delegation will then travel to Beijing and stay until May 2, where the mayor is expected to meet with officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.