New York City Global Partners evolved from the Sister City Program of the City of New York, Inc. The Sister City Program was restructured and renamed New York City Global Partners in 2006 with the aim of expanding the City’s interaction with world cities while maintaining its historic ten sister city relationships. The organization continues its membership in Sister Cities International, founded on President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s people-to-people principles which promote citizen exchange between U.S. and foreign cities.

New York City’s historic ten sister cities are: