Sister Cities
Richmond's Sister City Program
The Sister City Program fosters meaningful connections between Richmond residents and residents of other cities and cultures through projects and exchanges that:
- Collaborate with local community partners to support the program's goals
- Promote cultural integration and joint learning; and
- Engage the community in meaningful, participatory ways.
If you have an idea you want to propose to the Sister City Advisory Committee, email us at richmondsistercity@gmail.com.
Our Sister Cities
The City of Richmond has established important ties and relationships with three Cities as part of the Sister City Program:
Pierrefonds, Quebec, Canada
Area: 27.1 sq. km
Elevation: 22m
Relationship Established: July 29, 1967
2022 marks the 55th anniversary of the relationship between Richmond and Pierrefonds.
Sister City Agreement
Pierrefonds amalgamated as one of the boroughs of the new City of Montreal as Pierrefonds-Roxboro on Jan 1, 2002. It is located on the north west side of the island of Montreal.
Wakayama, Japan
Area: 208.85 sq. km
Elevation: 30m
Relationship Established: July 29, 1973
2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the relationship between Richmond and Wakayama.
Sister City Agreement
Wakayama prefecture is famous for its umeboshi (salty pickled plums) and mikan (mandarin oranges).
Xiamen, China
Area: 1,700.61 sq. km
Elevation: 2m
Relationship Established: April 27, 2012
2022 marks the 10th anniversary of the relationship between Richmond and Xiamen.
Sister City Agreement - English
Sister City Agreement - Chinese
With its clear waters and long, wide, sandy beaches as well as stable winds, Xiamen is one of the major hot spots for Kite Surfing in China.
In addition, Richmond signed a Friendship City Agreement with Qingdao:
Qingdao, China
Population: 10,256,700 (2021)
Area: 11,282 sq. km
Elevation: 1,133m
Relationship Established: April 21, 2008
2023 marks the 15th anniversary of the friendship city relationship between Richmond and Qingdao.
Friendship City Agreement - English
Friendship City Agreement - Chinese
Due to its temperate climate, Qingdao is one of the few cities in northern China where surfing is possible. The best surfing season coincides with typhoon season (June to October).
Sister City Advisory Committee
The Sister City Program is coordinated by the Sister City Advisory Committee. The Committee has 15 members that includes: 13 volunteer citizens appointed by Council; one representative of City Council; and one representative of the School District appointed by the School Board.
Become a Committee Member
Vacancies on the Sister Committee are advertised on the Advisory Bodies page. Applications are reviewed by City staff and a list of applicants is presented to Council for its consideration. Council appoints the successful applicants to the Committee. See our Sister City Terms of Reference and Program Objectives for details.
Annual Activity Reports
Annual activity reports provide a summary of the Sister City activities.
| 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
| 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Contact Information
For more information, please email: richmondsistercity@gmail.com