San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg and Mayor Richard Delepierre of Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt, France, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last weekend, marking the beginning of a new era of exchange and cooperation between the two cities. Notably, Le Chesnay-Rocquencourt is the hometown of San Antonio Spurs star Victor Wembanyama.

The MOU, signed during a virtual ceremony on June 14, will initiate the exploration of collaboration opportunities in key areas of mutual interest, including sports diplomacy, cultural exchange, and youth engagement.

“While we are thousands of kilometers apart, we are here to celebrate the spirit of building a community that diminishes distance and transcends borders to bring us closer together,” Mayor Nirenberg stated during the ceremony. He emphasized the importance of such bilateral relationships in strengthening global connections and addressing international tensions.

The virtual signing was witnessed by representatives from San Antonio Spurs Sports & Entertainment, Alliance Française of San Antonio, Students of Service, and Victor Wembanyama’s father, Felix Wembanyama. French Minister for European and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot and Michael Turner, representing the U.S. Embassy in Paris, also joined and provided remarks.

This MOU is the latest in a series of international relationship-building efforts by Mayor Nirenberg. His tenure has seen the establishment of Sister City Agreements with Darmstadt, Germany; Baguio City, Philippines; Queretaro, Mexico; and Lanzarote, Spain. Additionally, Friendship City Agreements have been forged with Amman, Jordan; Mexico City, Mexico; and Quebec City, Canada.

Relationships developed through the Sister Cities International program, founded by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, aim to foster citizen-to-citizen connections. These initiatives play a vital role in economic development and enhance mutual understanding through educational and cultural interplay.