About Sister Cities of Los Angeles

A sister city is created when a community decides to join with a community in another nation to learn more about one another, and to develop friendly meaningful exchanges. A sister city becomes official with the signing of a formal agreement by the top elected officials of the two jurisdictions. A sister city is a broad-based, officially approved, long-term partnership between two communities. These partnerships have the potential to perform the widest possible diversity of activities of any international program, including every type of municipal, business, professional, educational, and cultural exchange or project. Sister city programs involve local government, businesses, and a wide variety of citizen volunteers including nonprofit organizations. As the world becomes smaller, communities and individuals increasingly develop global perspectives. Sister cities allows them to form international partnerships that foster economic development, cross-cultural exchange, and global cooperation. A sister city program enables the citizens of both communities to become directly involved in international relations in unique and rewarding exchanges, which benefits all those involved. It enables all who participate to: * Exchange ideas and develop friendship with their counterparts in another culture on a direct, personal basis * Establish an identity as members of the global family involved in the constructive process of building world peace * Develop a way for the many and diverse elements of each community to come together to enjoy and profit from a cooperative program * Open new dialogues with the people of another culture to find unique solutions to improving the quality of life of all citizens * Participate in a program with a real partner in another country so all members of the community can feel they are contributing to international understanding in a direct personal way * Better understand their own community by sharing their way of life to the people of another culture.