Despite hundreds of years of violent colonial relations with Portugal, these nations all adopted Portuguese as their official language and collaborate with Brazil, Portugal, and East Timor to make up the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLC). The CPLC aims to foster diplomacy and political cooperation among member states and to promote the Portuguese language.

City officials addressed outreach methods to partner with global cities at a Sister City Collaboration Committee meeting Monday.  Each committee member presented ideas they have implemented with Madison’s sister cities as well as plans they have for the future that could improve the city’s culture sharing and world relations.

Since Timor-Leste (formerly East Timor) gained independence in 2002, the small territory has witnessed an intense competition between the US and China. While Timor-Leste has not been considered as strategically important for either country, both see their presence in the territory as a barometer for their global competition.