Provo City

Sister Cities


Why Have A Sister City?

Provo City and it's programs have become an important and positive force for peace by promoting understanding and respect among nations.  
On the individual level, there are opportunities for personal development, new friendships, and new challenges to understand the world around us. 
On the municipal level, the exchange of experiences between cities  who may be facing similar problems leads to new ideas and unique solutions, while at the same time enjoying the pride of one's own community. 
On the national level, the more personal contact with American Citizens helps to correct any distorted impressions of the people and life in this country often held by people of other nations.  This process also works in reverse for us. 
These relationships foster an atmosphere in which economic development, trade, tourism, education, history, art, foreign languages, international relations and global understanding can be nurtured.

 

 

Meissen, Germany

The City of Meissen is over 1000 years old.  It lies on the River Elbe, just a short distance northwest of Dresden.  It is known the world over, for it's beautiful porcelain which is identified by the distinctive trademark featuring two crossed swords.

Meissen has a natural tie to Provo, it being the home of Dr. Karl G. Maeser, a prominent founder of Brigham Young University. 
 
The official Sister City agreement was signed in July of 2001 and was attended by a delegation from Provo, including Maeser family members, Mayor Lewis K. Billings, Provo Municipal Council Members Mark Hathaway, Barbara Sandstrom and a local choir.  The group was joined by Thomas S. Monson, representing the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day-Saint and President Merrill Bateman from Brigham Young University, for the dedication of the statue of Dr. Karl G. Maeser.  The statue is located at the Dresden Stake Center. 
 
In September 2007, a delegation of 34 people, lead by Mayor Lewis Billings, attended the Meissen Wine Festival.   Lord Mayor Olaf Raschke  brought a delegation of 4 to Provo for the  Freedom Festival in July 2006 and brought a delegation of 9 to Provo during the Pioneer Day Celebration in 2009.   Mayor Raschke has extended an invitation to Provo City to join him at the Wine Festival in 2010.
 
Timpview High School and the Franziskaneum High School in Meissen have an ongoing educational exchange.  The German teacher from Timpview, Stephen Van Orden, has taken groups of students to Meissen on at least  4 different  occasions and students from Meissen have made reciprocal visits to Provo, most recently October 2009.  The experience gives both groups of students an opportunity to further their language skills and experience another culture. 

Nanning, China

Nanning, the capital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, is the region's political, economic, scientific and technological, cultural, educational, hygienic, information and financial center.  It is located in southeastern China on the Vietnam border.  It is the home of the Nanning International Folk Song Art Festival, held in October each year. 
The City covers an area of 10,029 square kilometers,  and has a total population of 2.73 million, including 1.18 million urban residents.   China is a hard market for many Provo companies to penetrate, and the Sister City agreement established a business relationship with Nanning which could stimulate exchanges.   The relationship could also assist Chinese students who want to come to the United States to study.
 
The official Sister City agreement was signed in Nanning in September of 2000, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.  Mayor Billings has lead two Provo delegations to Nanning and delegations from Nanning have visited Provo four times.
 
NuSkin Enterprises has a retail facility in Nanning and has participated in all of our past exchanges with Nanning both locally and in Nanning.  The City of Nanning has an established relationship with Brigham Young University and has sent young future city leaders to BYU for special training programs. 
 
To honor our Sister City Relationships, we have established a Friendship Garden.  It is located east of the main entrance to City Hall at 351 West Center Street.
  •  
  • Address:
    351 West Center St
    Suite 250
    Provo, Utah 84603-1849
  • Phone:
    801-852-6161
  • Fax:
    801-852-6161
  • Office Hours:
    Monday - Thursday
    7 a.m. - 6 p.m.
     
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