Sister Cities & Friendship Cities

Connecting with Communities Around the World

Sister_Cities_Sign

Global connections fuel Cupertino’s success. Many of our residents are immigrants or first-generation Americans. Likewise, many of the products designed here are distributed around the world. Partnering with communities in other countries celebrates and enhances the international nature of our community.

We cherish our Sister City and Friendship City relationships, which foster people-to-people international diplomacy, cooperation and friendship. The Sister and Friendship City Policy(PDF, 355KB) was recently updated in October 2023.

For information on how to establish a Sister City, visit: Sister Cities International

Sister Cities

A Sister City relationship is a long-term, formal agreement that may include cultural, educational, business, and technical exchanges. These relationships start with the Mayor of Cupertino and his or her counterpart from the other city formalizing a Memorandum of Understanding. Thereafter, an association of volunteers nurtures the ongoing connections. These can include visits by delegations of civic and business leaders, student exchange programs, and cultural events.

Cupertino has four established Sister City relationships:

Marking the importance of these relationships, a set of directional signs in the Civic Center courtyard point toward Cupertino’s Sister Cities (picture above-right).

City of Cupertino Support for Sister Cities

Sister Cities Festival Fee Waivers 

Festival Date Festival Producer Waived Fees City Paid Expenses Estimated Total Funding
Bhubaneswar Sister City City Initiative (CBSCI) September 21, 2024 Cupertino Bhubaneswar Sister City $12,623 $3,720 $16,343
Cherry Blossom April 26-27, 2025  Toyokawa Sister City $39,905 $11,780  $51,685 
Total $52,528 $15,500 $68,028

 
City of Cupertino Sister Cities Support

  • Sister Cities that host student delegations of four to nine students receive $2,500 a year in reimbursable funding
  • Sister Cities that host student delegations of more than 10 students receive $5,000 a year in reimbursable funding
  • Once every five years the City gives an extra $5,000 for an adult delegation
  • The City provides access to large facilities for up to three community events per Sister City per year
  • Sister City groups are provided up to 18 meeting room spaces per year

 
Friendship Cities

Though less formal, a Friendship City relationship is also an important way to foster international cooperation at a local level. These relationships expire after two years unless renewed.

Cupertino’s current Friendship Cities include:

  • New Taipei City, Taiwan
    • Approved: September 2023
    • Expires: September 2025
  • Taichung, Taiwan
    • Approved: September 2023
    • Expires: September 2025
  • Tongxiang, People's Republic of China
    • Approved: September 2023
    • Expires: September 2025
  • Xianning, People's Republic of China
    • Approved: September 2023
    • Expires: September 2025
    Friendship City Application(PDF, 101KB)
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