The City Council adopted a resolution on Monday, Feb. 26 to establish Yangpu District, Shanghai, China as Palo Alto’s newest Sister City, signaling a new partnership focused on innovation, shared learning and best practices. Find the latest Yangpu District news, stories and opinions on politics, business, society, lifestyle and culture, as well as featured stories and multimedia coverage from SHINE.
The partnership between Palo Alto and Yangpu District was established with the assistance of the Bay Area Council which supports the building of stronger ties between Bay Area communities, businesses and counterparts in China.

Yangpu is the largest urban district of Shanghai with a population of 1.3 million people and will become Palo Alto’s eighth Sister City. A formal signing ceremony will take place on Monday, March 5, 8:30 a.m. in Palo Alto City Hall. A delegation of 19 dignitaries from Yangpu District will be part of the ceremony.

Palo Alto and Yangpu share a number of characteristics which make them natural partners. Both are part of larger, thriving metropolitan regions that are considered centers of innovation, sharing key interests in the concept of Smart Cities. Palo Alto and Yangpu are also home to great universities, share a strong interest in education, and are leaders in civic sustainability efforts.

The Sister City concept was inaugurated by President Eisenhower in 1956 as a way to create bonds between people from different cities and to promote cultural exchanges and educational opportunities. Over the years, the City’s partnership with Neighbors Abroad has led to sister city relations with Palo, Philippines; Oaxaca, Mexico, Enschede, the Netherlands; Linkoping, Sweden; Albi, France, Tsuchiura, Japan and Heidelberg, Germany.