sister-cities

Rialto could be the first city in the United States to form a sister city relationship within Cuba after President Barack Obama announced a historic thawing of icy diplomatic relations that spans decades between the two countries.

A cultural relationship that started in 1999 was celebrated on Thursday night in southwest China.  Montana governor Steve Bullock and Guangxi governor Chen Wu took down the cover of the ceremonial wall of friendship between the two locations.

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.

In a ballroom at the Marriott Pere Marquette, municipal officials from Peoria and Jwaneng, Botswana, signed paperwork that begins to formalize a sister-city relationship between the communities. The process might be completed this summer. Jwaneng then would become Peoria’s fifth sister city. “These relationships don’t just happen,” Peoria Mayor Jim Ardis said during the culmination of a six-day visit by a 10-member Botswanan delegation. “They need to be nurtured.”