Sister city, county, municipality, oblast, prefecture, province, region, state, territory, town, and village relationships

A sister city relationship is a broad-based, officially approved, long-term partnership between two communities in different nations.

A sister city, county, municipality, oblast, prefecture, province, region, state, territory, town, or village relationship becomes official with a signing ceremony of the top-elected officials of the two jurisdictions, following approval by the local city councils (county commissions or state legislatures), as appropriate.

Sister city partnerships have the potential to carry out 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 are also unique in that they inherently involve the three main sectors in a community: