Press Release
Mayor Newsom Signs New Sister City Agreements With City Of Barcelona, Spain
07/19/10 - To further the ties of friendship and understanding between San Francisco and Barcelona, Spain and to affirm their mutual aspiration to work in unison for the benefit of their cities and nations, Mayor Gavin Newsom, joined by a trade delegation on behalf of the Honorable Jordi Hereu, Mayor of the City of Barcelona, today signed a declaration strengthening ties and establishing a sister city relationship between the two cities. This declaration marks the 18 th sister city for San Francisco.
“San Francisco has an established world-class reputation for innovation and the celebration of cultural diversity,” said Mayor Newsom. “Our sister city relationship with Barcelona will expand our relationships throughout the world and forge a new and stronger cultural and economic ties with Spain.”
“The sister city accord is a recognition of the historical, cultural, political and institutional ties between San Francisco and Barcelona as well as an official declaration of intent to nurture and strengthen new and existing partnerships in all areas of civic life,” said Supervisor David Campos. “Amongst many other things, a shared outlook on the world and the prospect for increased economic interaction make San Francisco and Barcelona well-suited to be sisters.”
“The new Barcelona Sister City partnership will help strengthen ties between the people of San Francisco and the people of Barcelona,” said Fariba Rezvani and Maria Andrews, Co-Chairs of the newly formed San Francisco- Barcelona Sister City Committee. “We look forward to working cooperatively to promote trade, tourism, and business between the two cities.”
The declaration establishes that the City of San Francisco and the City of Barcelona, on the basis of friendly cooperation, equality and mutual benefit, will work together to promote and broaden the cultural, academic and economic relations between the two cities. The Mayors reaffirmed their commitment to work together to carry out exchanges in such fields as science, medicine, environmental technology, commerce, art and culture, public health, sports, tourism and others to promote prosperity and contribute toward the development of deeper bonds of mutual understanding between the two cities.