What is a Sister City?

A sister city relationship establishes a long-term, cooperative relationship with a city in another country with similar demographics as well as cultural, educational, business and technical characteristics and opportunities for alignment. The relationship is formalized when two mayors or elected city leaders sign a memorandum of understanding establishing a sister city relationship. Activities are guided by liaisons who lead the sister city organization and activities are organized and implemented by volunteers, nonprofit agencies, businesses, and governmental agencies. A city may have any number of sister cities.