Founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956, Sister Cities International is a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit which serves as the national membership organization for individual sister cities, counties, and states across the U.S. This network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers in 570 member communities with over 2,300 partnerships in 150 countries on six continents.
Sister Cities International creates relationships based on cultural, educational, information and trade exchanges, creating lifelong friendships that provide prosperity and peace through person-to-person “citizen diplomacy.” Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Reagan, Bush, Clinton, Bush, and now President Barack Obama have served as the Honorary Chairman of Sister Cities International.
Sister Cities of Los Angeles is a network of 25 Sister Cities and three Friendship Cities on six continents. Sister Cities of Los Angeles celebrates the myriad cultures of L.A. through a continuing program of service in the areas of civics, educational, cultural, trade and economic development, travel, sports and recreation, and other areas of mutual interest. Sister Cities of Los Angeles promotes the image of the City of Los Angeles around the world, expands global interest in our city, and invites visitors to L.A.
Next year, several Sister Cities are celebrating the anniversary of establishing their partnerships with Los Angeles. Read on and find out more about these Sister Cities.
ATHENS, GREECE (35th Anniversary in 2019)
SISTER CITY SINCE 1984
Athens is one of the oldest cities in the world - its history can be traced back almost 4,000 years. As the capital of Greece, it is home to the Acropolis, one of the most advanced citadels built during its time. Athens reached its culmination in the Classical Period of the fifth century BC, becoming a powerful city-state and artistic center. It was during this period that the city experienced a flourish of artistic innovation in art, architecture, literature, and philosophy that has had a profound influence on human civilization.
BORDEAUX, FRANCE (55TH ANNIVERSARY in 2019)
SISTER CITY SINCE 1964
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France. It is the capital of the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture of the Gironde department. Bordeaux is the world’s major wine industry capital. It is home to the world’s main wine fair, Vinexpo, and the wine economy in the metro area takes in 14.5 billion euros each year. Bordeaux wine has been produced in the region since the 8th century. The historic part of the city is on the UNESCO World Heritage List as “an outstanding urban and architectural ensemble” of the 18th century. After Paris, Bordeaux has the highest number of preserved historical buildings of any city in France.
EILAT, ISRAEL (50TH ANNIVERSARY in 2019)
SISTER CITY SINCE 1969
Eilat is Israel’s southernmost city, a busy port and popular resort at the northern tip of the Red Sea, on the Gulf of Aqaba. The city’s beaches, coral reef, nightlife and desert landscapes make it a popular destination for domestic and international tourism. A concerted effort by the Israeli Government to populate Eilat began in 1955, with the resettlement of Jewish families from Morocco. Now home to more than 49,000 people, Eilat is part of the Southern Negev Desert, at the southern end of the Arava, adjacent to the Egyptian village of Taba to the south, the Jordanian port city of Aqaba to the east, and within sight of Saudi Arabia to the southeast, across the gulf.
GIZA, EGYPT (30TH ANNIVERSARY in 2019)
SISTER CITY SINCE 1989
Giza is an Egyptian city on the west bank of the Nile, near Cairo. The Giza Plateau is home to iconic Egyptian monuments, including 3 tall pyramids built as royal mausoleums around the 26th century B.C.
LUSAKA, ZAMBIA (50TH ANNIVERSARY)
SISTER CITY SINCE 1968
Lusaka is the capital and largest city of Zambia. One of the fastest developing cities in southern Africa. Lusaka is the centre of both commerce and government in Zambia and connects to the country’s four main highways heading north, south, east and west. English is the official language of the city, but Nyanja and Bemba are also common. It is a sprawling, metropolis with many multi-storey buildings, high-walled suburbs and busy shanty towns. There are air links to most of the major tourist destinations in Zambia from Lusaka International Airport.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO (50TH ANNIVERSARY in 2019)
SISTER CITY SINCE 1969
Mexico City is the capital and most populous city of Mexico. Mexico City is one of the most important financial centers in the Americas. Greater Mexico City has a GDP of $411 billion in 2011, making Mexico City urban agglomeration one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world. The city was responsible for generating 15.8% of Mexico’s GDP and the metropolitan area accounted for about 22% of total national GDP. As a stand-alone country, in 2013, Mexico City would be the fifth-largest economy in Latin America—five times as large as Costa Rica and about the same size as Peru. Mexico’s capital is both the oldest capital city in the Americas and one of two founded by Amerindians (Native Americans).
NAGOYA (60TH ANNIVERSARY in 2019)
SISTER CITY SINCE 1959
Nagoya is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is Japan’s third-largest incorporated city and the fourth most populous urban area. It is located on the Pacific coast on central Honshu. It is the capital of Aichi Prefecture and is one of Japan’s major ports along with those of Tokyo, Osaka, Kobe, Yokohama, Chiba, and Kitakyushu. It is also the center of Japan’s third-largest metropolitan region, known as the Chūkyō Metropolitan Area.
ST. PETERSBURG (30TH ANNIVERSARY in 2019)
SISTER CITY SINCE 1989
St. Petersburg is Russia’s second-largest city after Moscow, with five million inhabitants in 2012, and an important Russian port on the Baltic Sea. Between 1713 and 1728 and in 1732–1918, Saint Petersburg was the capital of imperial Russia. In 1918, the central government bodies moved to Moscow. Saint Petersburg is one of the modern cities of Russia, as well as its cultural capital. The Historic Centre of Saint Petersburg and Related Groups of Monuments constitute a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Saint Petersburg is home to The Hermitage, one of the largest art museums in the world. Many foreign consulates, international corporations, banks, and businesses have offices in Saint Petersburg.
TAIPEI, TAIWAN (40TH ANNIVERSARY in 2019)
SISTER CITY SINCE 1979
Taipei is the capital city and a special municipality of Taiwan (officially known as the Republic of China, “ROC”). Sitting at the northern tip of the island, Taipei City is an enclave of the municipality of New Taipei City. Taipei is the political, economic, educational, and cultural center of Taiwan, and one of the major hubs of the Chinese-speaking world. Considered to be a global city, Taipei is part of a major high-tech industrial area. Railways, high-speed rail, highways, airports, and bus lines connect Taipei with all parts of the island. Taipei is home to various world-famous architectural or cultural landmarks which include Taipei 101, Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, Dalongdong Baoan Temple, Hsing Tian Kong, Lungshan Temple of Manka, National Palace Museum, Presidential Office Building, Taipei Guest House, Ximending, and several night markets dispersing over the city. Its natural features such as Maokong, Yangmingshan, and hot springs are also well known to international visitors.