May 22, 2024, Ensenada, Mexico – In a significant move to strengthen ties of friendship and binational cooperation, Mayor Carlos Ibarra Aguiar of Ensenada and Mayor Robert H. McConnell of Vallejo, California, officially signed a sister city agreement between our respective cities. The signing ceremony took place in the Benito Juarez Garcia Hall of the Municipal House, with officials and community members in attendance.
Photos by: Gobierno de Ensenada
The agreement, supported by Sister Cities International, aims to foster cultural, economic, technological, educational, tourist, gastronomic, and health exchanges between Ensenada and Vallejo. Mayor Ibarra highlighted the collaborative spirit of both cities’ councils, acknowledging their crucial role in the agreement’s approval, which was initiated by Vallejo and culminated after seven years of anticipation.
“We are eager to develop a close relationship through cooperative activities that will benefit the development and prosperity of both our cities,” said Mayor Ibarra. “This includes systems for exchanging entrepreneurs and companies to promote the export and import of goods and services.”
Mayor McConnell expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome from Ensenada’s authorities, business chambers, and residents. He emphasized the agreement’s role in addressing mutual interests and fostering peace and inclusion.
“These partnerships promote a culture of peace by strengthening bonds of friendship and respectful dialogue,” Mayor McConnell stated. “Having experienced the devastation of war, I am convinced that more global sister city could reduce conflicts. When people connect and live together harmoniously, they are less inclined to fight and more inclined to seek peace.”
Following the formal signing, the mayors, accompanied by their wives Gabriela Gay Ibarra and Paula McConnell, exchanged gifts showcasing activities in both cities. The event also saw participation from key officials, including Secretary General of the City Hall Jose Antonio Vazquez Castañeda, Director of Public Relations Erika Marisol Acuña Buelna, Director of International Affairs Efraín Kantel Sanchez, and Pelton Stewart, a member of the Sister Cities Commission of Vallejo.
This sister city agreement marks the beginning of a new chapter of cooperation and shared growth for Ensenada and Vallejo, reflecting a commitment to building stronger, more connected communities.
