Delegates have travelled from around the world to attend a conference in Broken Hill, which celebrates the official links made between some global cities.

This week has seen the start of the Sister Cities Australia National Conference.

The Sister Cities program has operated for many years, linking cities, towns, shires, ports and even entire states with international sites considered most similar.

The program has created bonds between individuals and populations that otherwise may not have even heard of each other.

This year’s national Conference is hosted by the Broken Hill City Council, whose sister city is really not far away; the Sydney suburb of Bankstown.

The National President of the Sister Cities Association (SCA) said not only is it great to convene with members of the group from around the country and the world, the influx of visitors is great for whichever town gets to host it.

“It's very important because it's the annual get-together of Sister City personnel from around the country,” SCA President Bill Wilson said.

“It's our one and only real get-together where we can discuss issues that affect all of us with our relationships, whether they be in Australia or internationally, and it is one of the few occasions we get to host some of our international guests.”

“You get friendship relations happening around the world, and in this day that we're living, that is surely the most beneficial thing to any group.”

SCA provides a forum for cultural, economic and educational interchange between communities, encouraging friendship, co-operation and understanding to improve peaceful co-existence.