Vermont is celebrating Tottori, Japan, as its new sister state.

Gov. Phil Scott and Tottori Gov. Shinji Hirai renewed their relationship with a signed agreement Wednesday.

The partnership has brought educational and cultural exchanges between students. The governors hope to broaden the exchanges to include tourism and trade between the two regions.

Although more than 6,000 miles apart, the two cities share a lot of similarities — small population, mountainous terrain and recreational opportunities.

“That’s what we have to do regardless of what’s happening if we can all do our part and trying to reach out in our own backyards and try to foster these relationships,” said Scott.

Hirai said, “Small state and small Prefecture but we have the power, power to develop ourselves”

The relationship between the states began more than 20 years ago when then-Vice Gov. Hirai met with then-Vermont Gov. Howard Dean.