Veracruz, Mexico - The Veracruz Sister City Program began in November 1986 when the Corpus Christi City Council passed a resolution inviting the City of Veracruz, Mexico, to become a Sister City. A major port city in east central Mexico, Veracruz is known for food processing, wineries, breweries, textiles and oil. A high school student exchange program began in 1987 and continues to date. In 1995, a Mayor's delegation of Corpus Christi community leaders visited Veracruz and strengthened its ties with this southern neighbor.

 

Keelung, Taiwan, Republic of China - The City of Keelung, Taiwan, Republic of China, was officially recognized as Sister City of Corpus Christi in August 1987 when a Taiwanese delegation formally accepted the invitation for affiliation. Keelung is located on the north coast of Taiwan, near the capital of Taipei. It is the second largest of the five international seaports in Taiwan. Exchanges between the two cities include paintings from several Corpus Christi artists, which are now part of the permanent collection of the Keelung Museum of Art. Delegations between Corpus Christi and Keelung continue to explore trade opportunities between the two cities.

 

Monterrey, Mexico - Corpus Christi established a "Partners in Trade" relationship with Monterrey, Mexico in 1993. Cultural and economic exchanges with this neighbor led to the development of a high school student exchange program in 1996.

 

Toledo, Spain - In June 1989, an official delegation of Corpus Christi officials, business and civic leaders visited Toledo, Spain to initiate negotiations for the establishment of a Sister City relationship. In September 1989, a delegation of officials from Toledo traveled to Corpus Christi to formally conclude the agreement.

 

Corpus Christi and Toledo participate in a high school student exchange program every summer and share a vibrant cultural heritage. Toledo represents centuries of architectural styles and an eighth century tradition of the Feast of Corpus Christi. Touring artists from Spain have brought new breadth to the Corpus Christi's cultural offerings.

 

Yokosuka, Japan - Yokosuka, Japan and Corpus Christi have been sister cities since 1962. Since 1967, an annual student exchange program has been carried on to strengthen the ties of the friendship.

 

The citizens of Yokosuka gave the City of Corpus Christi a gift of traditional garden rocks and a large stone lantern for a Japanese style garden. The City of Yokosuka has developed a training program in which qualified employees are sent to Corpus Christi to work with their counterparts in our municipal government. Also, an exchange focusing on volunteerism in Japan and the United States was initiated between the two countries in 1994 through a grant from Sister Cities International and the Center for Global Partnerships in Japan.

 

Agen, France - The official Sister City affiliation between Agen, France and Corpus Christi was recognized in January of 1996 when the Mayor's delegation from Agen visited Corpus Christi. The City of Agen is also a Sister City of Toledo, Spain, making a triangle of Sister Cities between the three countries.

 

Agen is located in southwest France and is famous for raising Aquitaine cattle and for growing fruits and vegetables. Agen and Corpus Christi initiated a high school student exchange program the first year of the Sister City affiliation and are researching the possibility of future professional and university exchanges.

 

Sister Port Program

 

The Port of Corpus Christi, the fifth largest in the nation, also participates in a Sister Port Program. The purpose of this program is to promote trade, technical and cultural education between the port cities, their trading partners and their countries.

 

CCA Sister Ports include: Vera Cruz, Mexico