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Sacramento-Morelia Sister Cities

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Capital to Capital: A Sister City Partnership

On September 16, 2025, the Sacramento City Council unanimously adopted Resolution 2025-0259, formally declaring its intent to establish a sister city relationship with Morelia, Michoacán, México. The move followed discussions with officials from the City of Morelia to promote the relationship between the two cities, enabling both capital cities to pursue direct exchanges, tourism, and economic opportunities. Mayor ProTem Guerra initiated the motion to explore the sister city agreement with Morelia.

 

Capital a Capital: Una asociación de hermanamiento El 16 de septiembre de 2025, el Ayuntamiento de Sacramento unánimemente aprobó Resolución 2025-0258, formalmente declarando su intención de establecer una relación de hermanamiento con Morelia, Michoacán, México. A paso siguieron discusiones con oficiales de la Ciudad de Morelia para promover la relación entre las dos ciudades, iniciando intercambios directos entre las dos ciudades capitales de turismo y oportunidades económicas.

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Goals of the Partnership

Education

This partnership opens doors for educational exchange programs, language learning programs, scholarships, and research collaborations that invest in the next generation of both communities and honor the shared heritage between Sacramento and Morelia.

Educacion

Esta colaboración abre las puertas a programas de intercambio educativo, programas de aprendizaje de idiomas, becas y colaboraciones de investigación que invierten en la próxima generación de ambas comunidades y honran la herencia compartida entre Sacramento y Morelia.

Culture

Morelia is a city rich in festivals, art, music, and tradition. Sacramento is one of America's most diverse cities, with deep Michoacán roots. The cultural exchange will attempt to connect the representation of the indigenous cultures of both cities. This agreement will bring both of these cultures together through exchanges of art, culture, and community, strengthening pride, identity, and people-to-people connections on both sides of the border.

Cultura

Morelia es una ciudad rica en festivales, arte, música y tradición. Sacramento es una de las ciudades más diversas en América, con raíces profundas en Michoacán. El intercambio cultural buscará conectar la representación de las culturas indígenas de ambas ciudades. Este acuerdo unirá estas dos culturas por medio del intercambio de arte, cultura y comunidad, fortaleciendo el orgullo, la identidad y las conexiones de gente a gente por ambos lados de la frontera.

Economy

Sacramento is the capital of the fifth-largest economy, while Morelia, Capital of Michoacán continues to grow its commercial and industrial base. Sacramento serves as a bridge, connecting entrepreneurs and business leaders across both markets. Volaris's new direct flight connecting Sacramento Airport to Morelia will continue to open avenues for business ties.

Economia

Sacramento es la capital de la quinta economía más grande del mundo, mientras que Morelia, la capital de Michoacán, continúa expandiendo su base comercial e industrial. Sacramento sirve como un puente, conectando a empresarios y líderes empresariales de ambos mercados. El nuevo vuelo por medio de Volaris que conecta el aeropuerto de Sacramento con Morelia continuará abriendo oportunidades para lazos comerciales.

Tourism

The Sister City agreement strengthens the link between these two capital cities. This collaborative effort will continue to drive tourism across both cities, encouraging residents of Sacramento to explore Morelia's rich culinary traditions. By promoting each city as a premier destination for the other, this partnership creates a lasting exchange of visitors, culture, and economic opportunity that benefits both communities for generations to come.

Tourismo

El acuerdo hermanatorio fortalece el vínculo entre las dos ciudades capitales. Este esfuerzo colaborativo continuará manejando turismo por medio de las dos ciudades, animando a los residentes de Sacramento a explorar la rica tradición culinaria de Morelia. Promoviendo cada ciudad como destino principal, esta alianza crea un intercambio duradero de visitantes, cultura y oportunidades económicas que beneficia a ambas comunidades por generaciones.

 

The Agreement

The agreement was preliminarily signed by Mayors of both cities on February 6, 2026,  and pending council approval. The finalization of the Sister City agreement became official on June 25th, 2026.

Morelia Mayor Alfonso Martínez Alcázar highlighted the initiative's importance for strengthening institutional cooperation and benefiting the Morelian migrant community in Sacramento. The partnership will advance the exchange of education, arts and culture, economy, and tourism.

Culturally, the relationship opens the door for artist exchanges that honor the Michoacán heritage of Sacramento's Latino community. Michoacán is the state from which many Sacramentans share family ties, making this an important diplomatic agreement.

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El Acuerdo

El acuerdo inicialmente fue firmado por los alcaldes de ambas ciudades el 6 de febrero de 2026, con la aprobación del consejo municipal pendiente. El acuerdo de hermanamiento se hizo oficial el 25 de junio de 2026. El presidente de Morelia, Alfonso Martínez Alcázar, destacó la importancia de la iniciativa para fortalecer la cooperación institucional que beneficiará a la comunidad moreliana migrante en Sacramento. Esta alianza impulsará el intercambio en educación, arte y cultura, economía, y turismo. Culturalmente, la relación abre puertas para el intercambio artístico que honra la herencia michoacana de la comunidad latina de Sacramento. Michoacán es el estado de origen de muchos sacramentianos, lo que convierte este acuerdo diplomático en una iniciativa de gran importancia.

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Sacramento's Sister Cities:

Manila, Philippines (Est. 1961)

Matsuyama, Japan (Est. 1981)

Jinan, China (Est. 1984)

Hamilton, New Zealand (Est. 1988)

Liestal, Switzerland (Est. 1989)

Chișinău, Moldova (Est. 1989)

Yongsan-gu (Seoul), South Korea (Est. 1997)

San Juan de Oriente, Nicaragua (Est. 2006)

Pasay City, Philippines (Est. 2006)

Bethlehem, Palestine (Est. 2009)

Ashkelon, Israel (Est. 2012)

Mexicali, Mexico (Est. 2013)

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