Sister Cities
The Houston International Protocol Alliance is the city's liaison to Houston's 17 sister city associations and to the national governing organization, Sister Cities International. Houston's program is run by volunteers who form 17 associations and the umbrella organization Sister Cities of Houston, Inc. Through official city-to-city relationships, these volunteer associations promote people-to-people diplomacy and encourage citizens to develop mutual trust and understanding through commercial, cultural, educational, and humanitarian exchanges. The Protocol Alliance advises on the formation of new sister city relationships and provides information on the program to interested groups and individuals.
Houston's 17 sister cities are:
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (2001*)
Baku, Azerbaijan (1976)
Chiba, Japan (1973)
Grampian Region (Aberdeen), Scotland (1979)
Guayaquil, Ecuador (1987)
Huelva, Spain (1969)
Istanbul, Turkey (1988)
Karachi, Pakistan (2009)
Leipzig, Germany (1993)
Luanda, Angola (2003)
Nice, France (1973)
Perth, Australia (1983)
Shenzhen, China (1986)
Stavanger, Norway (1980)
Taipei, Taiwan (1963)
Tampico, Mexico (2003)
Tyumen, Russia (1995)
*The year in which the sister city relationship was established.
