Phoenix Welcomes New Sister City

Feb. 12, 2001

Catania, Italy will become Phoenix's newest sister city at a special signing ceremony at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 20 at the Phoenix City Council, 200 W. Jefferson St. A delegation of city officials, business owners and private citizens from Catania will tour Phoenix from Sunday, Feb. 18, to Sunday Feb. 25, to commemorate the affiliation.

The Phoenix Sister Cities Commission has arranged for delegates from Catania to meet with city of Phoenix officials, university professors and high-tech businesses, explore tourist attractions and sample local cuisine as they develop a relationship with Phoenix.

The Phoenix Sister Cities Commission is designed to promote student, educational, cultural and economic development exchanges that form bridges of international understanding and goodwill.

Other Phoenix sister cities include Hermosillo, Mexico; Calgary, Canada; Chengdu, China; Prague, Czech Republic; Grenoble, France; Ennis, Ireland; Himeji, Japan; and Taipei, Taiwan.

The Sister Cities program began in 1956 when President Dwight D. Eisenhower proposed the People-to-People program. Today, more than 1,000 U.S. cities in all 50 states are linked with more than 1,600 foreign cities in 117 countries.

For more information on the Phoenix Sister Cities Commission call 602-534-3751.

Media Contact:

Jane Poston Paula West

602-534-6648 602-534-3751