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Related documents: Position paper on Sister State and
Sister City Relations Between Australia and China Chamber letter to Sister City News Information about cities
and provinces in China. |
MAKING SISTER CITY RELATIONS WORK FOR THE ECONOMIC 12 March 2002 Sponsoring organisations: Local Government and
Shires Associations NSW (LGSA) Australian Sister
Cities Association (ASCA) Australia China
Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New South Wales (ACCCI) |
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Michael C.H. Jones,
President, Australia-China Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New South
Wales A Third Tier of International Business It gives me great pleasure to open
the Sister City Forum this morning and to introduce the first three speakers: v
Cr Peter Woods OAM, President of the Local
Government and Shires Association of New South Wales v
Deputy Consul General of the People’s Republic of
China in Sydney, Mr Du Wei v
Cr Kevin Hill, President of the Australian Sister
City Association But firstly let me thank the
sponsoring organisations, the LGSA, the ASCA and the ACCCI for this
initiative and the work of all their members in finally achieving a very
significant gathering of Mayors and senior officers and staff from over 20
councils in New South Wales as well as representation from the NSW and
Queensland Governments, the Hunter Business Connection and the Australia
China Friendship Society. These introductory remarks are
to set the stage for what I know will be a thought provoking dialogue between
those who have a profound commitment to local government, and the actual and
potential role it plays or could play in building worthwhile and lasting
relationships internationally. CHINA To begin let me draw your
attention to the twin themes of today’s proceedings namely: v
To make sister city relations work for the economic
benefit of both parties. v
To provide information to councils considering
establishing or reviving Sister City links with local authorities in China,
with an emphasis on trade, investment, industry and commercial activities. In this context I believe there
are at least three immediate factors that need to be taken into
consideration: Firstly, that geographically and
socially China is akin to Europe with a diversity that is simply enormous in
every field, and a predominance in Asia which only India can challenge. Secondly, that economically and
diplomatically China has similarities with the United States between 1865 and
1917 when that country emerged from its “cultural revolution”, or civil war,
to enter the front rank of world powers in all areas. Thirdly, that politically and
strategically Australia is of declining importance for China as that country
is accepted into the global community which means we must focus more
determinedly on ways to maintain our economic relationship. Therefore the role of the Sister
City Relationship, among other channels, and their potential benefits for
Australia, must be viewed more and more from a global or at least regional
perspective rather than from a simply bilateral perspective. Competition for friendship and business is
an international phenomenon. Cultural understanding and
working familiarity cannot be legislated by national governments. Educational programmes will not
replace people-to-people contact and co-operative effort. Economic opportunities are not
realised on the internet but through trade and commerce. RECOMMENDATIONS Out of today’s proceedings I
would like to see three developments. I would like to see the start of
a better understanding of the role of Local Government, or Municipal
Government as it is called in China, in the promotion of trade and investment
relations between our two countries. This Forum for example is the culmination of over three years
promotion by ACCCI. Secondly I would like to see a
movement towards the re-structuring of Australia’s trade and investment
effort with China, away from the excessive centralisation in Canberra to a
more diversified plan with specific objectives based on the natural
advantages of federal, state and local government. This would more effectively match China’s trade and investment
structures. Finally I would like to see an
agreement in principle for a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, between the
Local Government and Shires Association of New South Wales, LGSA, the
Australian Sister City Association, ASCA, and the Australia China Chamber of
Commerce and Industry of New South Wales, ACCCI, firstly to co-operate more
closely in supporting Sister City Relationships between Australia and China,
and secondly to campaign energetically to make Local Government in Australia
a genuine third level for international business and economic relations and
especially for Small to Medium sized Enterprises, SMEs.. I now
take pleasure in handing over to our morning session speakers. |
