City twinning is increasingly being used to establish strategic international trade relationships. For example, in the 1990s, when Nottingham City Council in Great Britain considered installing a tram network, Nottingham City Council consulted experts from its twin town, Karlsruhe, which has one of Germany`s largest and most efficient tram networks. With the help of specialist engineers in Karlsruhe, Nottingham completed the second tram line in 2013. [4] In 2014, Bristol and New Orleans, at the initiative of Bristol Mayor George Ferguson, announced their intention to create a tuning partnership based on a common musical heritage and a common cultural offering. [46] Annecy, France and Nerima, Tokyo, have for several years shared a partnership based on their “co-existing animation industry”. [47] [48] The term “city diplomacy” is formally used in the work of the United Cities and Local Governments and the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group and recognized by the USC Center on Public Diplomacy. During a debate in the British House of Lords in March 2014, the development of twinnings towards urban diplomacy was recognised, not only in trade and tourism, but also in culture and reconciliation after conflicts. [16] The importance of developing “their own foreign economic policy in the areas of trade, foreign investment, tourism and the attraction of foreign talent” was also highlighted by the World Economic Forum. In addition to the C40, the World Cities Summit, the Smart City Expo World Congress[18] are also the Strong City Network[19] and 100 Resilient Cities. [20] [15] In 2016, more than 125 multilateral networks and forums were deployed to facilitate international cooperation between the various local authorities.
[14] Studies have shown that city mayors play an active role in urban diplomacy. In the United Kingdom, the term “twin cities” is the most widely used; the term “sister cities” is generally used for agreements with cities in North and South America. [1] [6] On the European continent, the most commonly used terms are `twin cities`, `twin cities`, `twin cities` and `friendship cities`. The European Commission uses the term `twin cities` and refers to the process as `twinning cities`. [1] [6] Spain uses the term “ciudades hermanadas,” which means “sister cities.” Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic use the partner city (De) / miasto partnerskie (Pl) / partnerské mesto (Cz), which means “partner city” or “partner city”. France uses twin city (twinning, twinning city or city) and Italy a gemellaggio (partnership) and comune gemellato (common partner). [7] In the Netherlands, the terms “Partnerstad” or “Stedenband” (“urban borrowing” when it comes to mutual assistance). In Greece, the word “Adelfopiisi – Fraternity” was adopted. In Iceland, the terms vinab`ir (friends cities) and Vinaborgir (friends cities) are used. In the former Soviet bloc, “twin cities” and “twin cities” were used,[8] with the “Ru” (sworn brother cities).
[9] [10] Toledo, United States of America, entered into a partnership with Toledo, Spain, in 1931 and was the first city in North America to participate in the twinning of cities. Vancouver,Canada succumbed to Odessa in 1944, Ukraine was the first in Canada and the second in North America, while Denver, Usa, a partnership with Brest, France was the second city twinned in the United States. A Liberal, Kansas was reunited in 1950 with Olney in the United Kingdom, and cities have since held a common pancake day race. [50] [51] Littleton, CO, was coached in 1961 with Bega, Australia. Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, was deployed in 1973 with Seattle, Washington, in connection with Seattle, Washington.