Sister City Program

"The origin of modern diplomacy was in the relations between cities. Today, cities are our conduits for world trade, our main communicators of culture, the homes of those with the strongest ethnic contacts with other countries and a proven training ground for future world leadership. The sister cities program helps to provide a means by which all of these important assets can be made more meaningful." - Henry Kissinger

Houston established its first sister city in 1963 and has added 15 more sister cities since then. Houston is a member of Sister Cities International and therefore complies with all SCI rules and regulations. Houston's programs encompass a wide variety of areas, including trade, education, culture, and the arts. Houston's objectives also include promoting Houston internatinoally, increasing tourism and trade, and stimulating pride in ethnic heritage.

Houston and the city of Shenzhen, China, have engaged in cultural, educational, social, and economic exchanges since 1984. The Houston-Shenzhen Sister Cities program was formalized in 1989 when then Shenzhen Mayor Li Hao and a delegation traveled to Houston to attend the signing ceremony establishing a sister city relationship between Houston and Shenzhen as signed by then Mayor Kathy Whitmire. Shenzhen is not only the sister city of Houston, but also its sister port. A similar relationship exists between Houston's High School for the Performing Arts (HSPVA) and the equivalent Arts Academy of Shenzhen.

In 2000, the Houston-Shenzhen Sister City Association, led by the efforts of President Dan Nip and a delegation of Houston citizens, raised $300,000 for a sculpture called the Shen-blue Sculpture which was presented as a gift from the people of Houston to the people of Shenzhen. Jesus Moroles has trained Chinese sculptors in his Texas studio, some of whom have returned to contribute major public art works to the thriving cultural life of China. Robert Avalon, who trains young composers at HSPVA and is Artistic Director of Houston's Foundation for Modern Music, will create opportunities for an exchange of young composers between Shenzhen and Houston.

The exchange between the two cities is blossoming and it is hoped that the Garden of the Spheres and its related musical component will increase teh goodwill and understanding not only between the two cities, but also between the United States and China.

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