Cities, commerce and culture: The economic role of international sister‐city relationships between New Zealand and Asia

AbstractCulture has been considered to be an important factor affecting cross‐border trade and investment. The existing literature addresses this issue mainly by considering the effect of culture on economic relations and suggests behavioural patterns of individuals and institutions when confronted with this environment. This paper considers an effective way to reduce the distance in the cultural gap. It discusses the concept of international sister‐city relationships as an effective instrument to foster closer cultural and economic links between countries. The emphasis is on an integrating approach, based on the multifold relationships between culture and commerce. Exclusive approaches, which follow either a cultural or a commercial agenda, are questioned. The paper is based on a study conducted in 1995–96 among local governments in New Zealand with a sister‐city relationship with Asia. The responses to the surveys resulted in a set of guidelines for effective management and organization of economically motivated sister‐city relationships.