How did Matsumoto City and Salt Lake City create a sister city relationship and keep it for 50 years?

The Guide of SLC
- Heading to the west, the Mormons looked for a new land. They found a clean and beautiful town

The Guide of SLC	Just east of Salt Lake City, the Wasatch Mountains stand at the base of the Rockies.
The Great Salt Lake	The Great Salt Lake is famous for its high level of salt which allows people to easily float on the water. Salt Lake City was named after the Great Salt Lake.
Panoramic view of SLC	Though Salt Lake City is in the middle of the desert, many are surprised by its green trees.
	The Mormon Temple stands proudly in the center of Salt Lake City. Many followers and tourists come to see the magnificent temple.
	Utah is named after the Ute Native American Tribe. It is said that they were very friendly towards the pioneers.
	Led by Brigham Young, the Mormon Pioneers headed westward to the Promised Land.
	Pioneers travelled with their families on wagons. Many died of starvation.
	When they arrived Brigham Young said, "This is the Place." A memorial statue now stands and portrays the emotions of Young at that time.

The Guide of Matsumoto City
- An ancient town known for a castle, beautiful mountains, music and academics

The Guide of Matsumoto	Just west of Matsumoto there is a mountain in the heart of the Northern Alps that Weston named Kamikouchi.
Panoramic view of Matsumoto City	Matsumoto city is said to have been given its name when the Fukashi Castle was renamed to the Matsumoto Castle. People have wished that it would be imperishable like the Evergreen Pine. Matsumoto is said to have a government office since the Nara Period (710-784AD) and was located in the center of the Shinano Country (now the Nagano Prefecture). Because of this they called it the Shrine in the Mountain Range.
Street	Due to much traffic outside of the castle, many merchants built storehouses which still exists today.
Well	There are many locations around Matsumoto city where natural spring water is found. People come here to rest and collect the water to drink.
Shinichi Suzuki Seiji Ozawa	Matsumoto is very rich in musical talent. The world renowned Suzuki Music Teaching Method was founded in Matsumoto and in recent years the Saito Kinen Festival is held in the summer.
	With similar backgrounds, could it be that geography and history are the only factors that led to Matsumoto and Salt Lake City to become sister cities?