International and consular relationships

International relationships (sister cities and friendship cities)

The City of Vancouver has five sister-city relationships with:

Odesa, Ukraine - 1944
Yokohama, Japan - 1965
Edinburgh, Scotland - 1978
Guangzhou, China - 1985
Los Angeles, United States - 1986

Vancouver’s sister city relationships are supported by City staff and community groups, who work together to share information, promote educational exchange, and enhance economic development.

We are no longer entering into new sister city relationships. Sister cities are ongoing relationships based on historical and cultural ties. We have capped the number of sister cities to five maximum.

Our External Relations and Protocol department is the principal point of contact for our five sister cities and for local community groups who support sister city activities.

Friendship City Program

Our Friendship City Program (207 KB) was established by Vancouver City Council in July 2022. It is intended to facilitate time-limited city-to-city partnerships that strengthen cultural and business relationships internationally and are governed by a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with measurable goals and objectives.

Friendship City relationships are to be initiated and operated by local non-profits representing a group of residents or businesses in Vancouver with an active relationship with a proposed Friendship City. The local non-profit is to be responsible for all associated Friendship City activities and costs, and would be required to demonstrate that the Friendship City relationship meets the program criteria.

Start an application

Criteria

Strong community, civic, and corporate support

There is strong community support from individuals, corporations, civic leaders, and the local government of the proposed Friendship City. This would be demonstrated through official letters of support, the formation of a new local non-profit society or the commitment of an existing local non-profit society that has a vested interest in and connection to the proposed Friendship City.

Strong alignment of goals and priorities

There are strong connections – both with cultural ties and clear alignment in priority areas between Vancouver and the proposed Friendship City (for example: sustainability, housing affordability, equity, and diversity) as well as in city attributes (for example: population, geography, demographics).

Strong diplomatic and ethical alignment

There is a strong ethical match and the proposed Friendship City strives to be a stable and ethical government. The proposed Friendship City is within a country in which the Government of Canada has a relationship.
Application and approval process
- Application process
  - A local non-profit applies online to initiate a Friendship City relationship. The City’s Protocol Office reviews the application and determines if the application meets the criteria, and then provides a summary of the application and recommendations to the Mayor’s Office. The Mayor’s Office either approves or declines the recommendation.
- Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
  - If the Mayor’s Office approves the recommendations, the Protocol Office works with the local non-profit and proposed Friendship City to facilitate the development of an MOU by the Mayors of Vancouver and the proposed Friendship City. The Mayor’s Office will then bring a motion forward to Council to approve the MOU before the MOU is signed.
- Annual activity report
  - The local non-profit will be obligated through the MOU to provide an annual written report to the Protocol Office with progress and activity updates to ensure that the agreement is being honoured. The annual written report is shared with Council.
- MOU term
  - All Friendship City MOUs expire at the end of five years with an option to renew for one additional five-year term.
- City support
  - City of Vancouver support for Friendship City activities is limited to a letter signed by the Mayor, annual letters to confirm the agreement, and staff coordination of any incoming visit or meeting request from Friendship City representatives wishing to meet with the Mayor.
Review a flow chart of the application and approval process (169 KB)
Program limits
Proposed program limits
- Maximum one new Friendship City relationship per year
  - A maximum of one new Friendship City agreement is permitted per year.
- Maximum five overall
  - An overall limit of five Friendship Cities will be active at any given time.
- Maximum five-year term with an option to renew for one additional five-year term
  - Each MOU will have a five-year limit, with an option to renew the MOU for one additional five-year term.

Consular relations

The External Relations and Protocol office is the principal point of contact for members of the Consular Corps of British Columbia wishing to engage with the City.

Consulates in the city of Vancouver can contact Natti Schmid, Acting Chief, External Relations and Protocol at 604-679-6527 or natti.schmid@vancouver.ca.

Visit City Hall

Walk the Vancouver City Hall grounds and third floor to view photographs, gifts, and artwork that represent our sister cities. Discover the 1930s-era architecture and design of Vancouver City Hall.

International and consular relationships

International relationships (sister cities and friendship cities)

Friendship City Program

Criteria

Application and approval process

Program limits

Consular relations

Visit City Hall

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