The 45th Anniversary Sister City Series: Kaohsiung
Tulsa’s Sister City relationships are built on deep personal and cultural connections, and our partnership with Kaohsiung, Taiwan, is no exception. For Rex Burnett, chair of the Kaohsiung Sister City Committee, the connection is both global and local. It is shaped by decades of lived experience in Taiwan and years of community engagement here in Tulsa.
About Kaohsiung
Located on the southwest coast of Taiwan, Kaohsiung is the island’s third most populous city and its largest port. Once a modest fishing village, it has grown into a vibrant metropolis known for its shipbuilding industry, scenic harbor, and modern infrastructure. Today, Kaohsiung is a center for commerce, culture, and education, blending traditional Taiwanese life with innovative urban development. The city is also home to lush mountains, bustling night markets, and cultural landmarks like the Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum and the Love River.
About the Partnership
Kaohsiung became Tulsa’s Sister City in 1980 under then-Mayor Jim Inhofe, making it one of Tulsa’s longest-standing international relationships. Over the years, the partnership has included book donations, city delegations, and trade connections. These milestones include a visit to Kaohsiung’s library opening in 2014 and participation in the Global Bays and Harbor Cities Forum in 2018.
Tulsa Global Alliance has continued to nurture this connection through business and cultural programming, including a 2021 virtual seminar on Doing Business in Taiwan and ongoing participation in the Tulsa City-County Library’s Asian-American Festival. With Chair Rex Burnett and Deputy Chair Susie Tattershall now leading the effort, the partnership is entering a new chapter of community-focused engagement.
Rex’s personal connection to Taiwan began over 25 years ago. He has lived in Kaohsiung, Taipei, and Zhongli, and is fluent in both Mandarin and Cantonese. His first exposure to East Asia was as a missionary in Hong Kong beginning in 1988. He was living there during the Tiananmen Square protests in 1989, an experience that deeply shaped his commitment to cross-cultural understanding.
Today, Rex serves as a Program Director at Tulsa Community College, with a background in international education, language instruction, and student exchange. Whether teaching Chinese, directing global programs, or leading student trips abroad, Rex has spent his career building bridges between cultures.
“You can study a culture all you want,” he says, “but there’s no substitute for going and experiencing it yourself.”
Under his leadership, the Kaohsiung Sister City partnership has created meaningful community programming. In February 2025, Rex led a Lunar New Year celebration at TCC’s Southeast Campus, featuring traditional food, crafts, calligraphy, and cultural presentations. Events like these reflect the heart of the Sister Cities program by sharing culture through food, art, language, and people-to-people exchange.
The partnership also plays a key role in Global Gatherings at Gathering Place, a series of global education events taking place during the summer. Rex and his team of volunteers will represent Kaohsiung on July 19, bringing Taiwanese culture to life for Tulsa families through hands-on activities and storytelling.
Rex is especially drawn to Taiwan’s sense of timelessness. “There’s something humbling about meeting someone whose ancestors have lived in the same place for generations,” he says. “The language, the traditions — it’s like stepping into another world.”
As we celebrate 45 years of Sister City friendships, Tulsa Global Alliance is proud to spotlight leaders like Rex Burnett and the lasting partnerships that make international connection feel local.
Why It Matters
For 45 years, Tulsa’s Sister Cities have connected people, cultures, and communities across the globe. Partnerships like Kaohsiung thrive because of local support. Help us keep these international friendships alive and growing.
Donate today and be part of Tulsa’s global story.
