As a state, Illinois maintains sister-state and cooperative relationships to foster international trade, education, and cultural exchange:
* **Niigata Prefecture, Japan** * **Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea** * **Greater Poland Voivodeship, Poland** * *Note:* The city of Chicago also has one of the largest Sister Cities programs in the world, maintaining active relationships with 29 cities globally, including Paris (France), Osaka (Japan), and Warsaw (Poland).