adelaide, south australia · our sister cities • act as a connector for other south australian...

SISTER CITIESADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA

Adelaide City Council acknowledges that we are located on the traditional country of the Kaurna people of the Adelaide Plains and pays respect to Elders past and present.

We recognise and respect their cultural heritage, beliefs and relationship with the land. We acknowledge that they are of continuing importance to the Kaurna people living today.

Acknowledgement to Country

2 SISTER CITIES Adelaide South Australia

Contents

ContentsLord Mayor’s Message .........................................................................

1: About Adelaide City Council ..........................................................

2: About our Sister Cities .....................................................................

3: The benefits of Sister City Relationships .....................................

4: Adelaide’s Sister City Program ......................................................

5: Guidelines ..........................................................................................

7: FAQ ......................................................................................................

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3SISTER CITIES Adelaide South Australia

In order to be able to compete effectively in an increasingly internationally connected marketplace and community, it is important for Adelaide to position itself strategically in the global community.

The future of Adelaide is in creating a true global city, which is renowned for its liveability, creativity and prosperity. Our city’s Sister City relationships are vital to achieving this goal.

Council has a strong history of international partnerships through Sister City connections dating back more than 40 years, when we entered an agreement with Christchurch in New Zealand.

We now enjoy relationships with five Sister Cities and two Friendly Cities, across three continents. From diplomat visits to education exchanges, our Sister City partnerships are diverse and dynamic.

Thank you for your interest in the City of Adelaide’s international partnerships.

I hope you are proud of the connections we are forging across the world.

Lord Mayor’s Message

LORD MAYOR’S MESSAGE

Martin Haese LORD MAYOR

SISTER CITIES Adelaide South Australia 5

1: About Adelaide City Council

1: INTRODUCTION

Adelaide was ranked the fifth most liveable city in the world again by the Economist Intelligence Unit’s report The Global Liveability Report in 2014.

Adelaide is the capital of South Australia. South Australia has a population of 1.675 million with most people living in the greater metropolitan area of Adelaide including 21,600 people who live in the City of Adelaide.

Adelaide City Council was the first local government formed in Australia in 1840. In 2015, Adelaide City Council and Local Government in Australia will celebrate their 175th Anniversary.

A well planned city with wide streets set in a grid-like pattern, surrounded by a belt of green park lands, Adelaide is seen as the quiet achiever and traditionally as an important centre for the export of primary products. As technology rapidly advances, Adelaide prides itself on being a leader when it comes to innovation and entrepreneurship.

Recently Adelaide became the first capital city in Australia to provide free Wi-Fi across the CBD and main streets of North Adelaide. The recent investment in activating the streets ensures Adelaide is a vibrant and progressive city to work, visit and study.

Adelaide is seen as the gateway for local tourism and is well-known around the world for its festivals and public outdoor events.

Sister City relationships have formed over the years with a focus on building the trade and tourism links between the cities. Over the years these relationships have grown to encompass cultural and educational aspects as well.

Adelaide is a city of great places for people, for living and community life, for businesses to start up and grow and for knowledge and creativity to flourish. Adelaide is the dynamic heart of the State’s pursuits in business and commerce, arts and culture, retail, education and innovation.



Adelaide, Australia

SISTER CITY

Austin, TexasUnited States of America

SISTER CITY

George Town, PenangMalaysia

SISTER CITY

Himeji, HyogoJapan

FRIENDSHIP CITY

Chengdu, SichuanPeople’s Republic of China

FRIENDSHIP CITY

Dalian, LiaoningPeople’s Republic of China

SISTER CITY

Christchurch, CanterburyNew Zealand

SISTER CITY

Qingdao, ShandongPeople’s Republic of China

1983

1973

1982

2001

2001

1972

2013


2: About our Sister Cities

2: ADELAIDE

AustinAustin was founded in 1838, and has a current population of 885,400. Austin is the capital of Texas, located 362km from the Mexican border and home to the University of Texas. As well as its large manufacturing base, Austin is an emerging research and development centre for high technology.

Austin has a diverse culture with many influences. From South American, African-American and European, amongst others, each brings a distinctive style to Austin, with many cultural festivals and events being held throughout the year.

This interesting culture is set against a beautiful landscape of desert blooms and amazing sunsets. Like Adelaide, Austin also has a green belt of park lands for recreational and community use.

Austin has become the live music capital of the world with the largest music festival of its kind in the world, SXSW (South by Southwest). Austin is also home to a wonderful ballet company, world-class museums, one-of-a-kind shopping and beautiful outdoor spaces.

Christchurch

Christchurch became New Zealand’s first city in 1856 and in 1862 Christchurch City Council was formed.

Traditionally known as “The Garden City”, Christchurch is a city with stunning parks and gardens set against a majestic Alps to Ocean backdrop. It lies one third of the way down the South Island’s east coast. The population of Christchurch City is 341,469 (2013 census).

Lonely Planet listed Christchurch as one of the top 10 cities to visit in 2013 and The New York Times ranked Christchurch no. 2 on their 52 Places to Go in 2014. It is a vibrant and picturesque city within the richly varied Canterbury region. It offers a range of activities such as skiing and snowboarding, surfing, wineries, whale watching, alpine spas and hidden bays... all within just a few hours’ drive.

Christchurch is one of the world’s most unique destinations – you can see creativity and innovations popping up all over the city, in this ever-evolving time following the 2010 and 2011 earthquakes. Also, you can discover ideas like a mall made out of brightly coloured shipping containers, the famous transitional “cardboard” cathedral, pop up bars, gap fillers and so many other ideas which are breathing new life back into the city.

Austin

Adelaide

Christchurch


10 SISTER CITIES Adelaide South Australia10 SISTER CITIES Adelaide South Australia

2: ADELAIDE

George Town The Island of Penang is about 24 kilometres long and 14 kilometres wide at its broadest point. Penang was founded in 1786 by Captain Francis Light and 50 years later in 1836, Adelaide was founded by his son, Colonel William Light. Penang is a bustling port with a strong industrial base and a diverse and interesting heritage. George Town, the capital city of Penang, has a population of 900,000 and was named by the British after King George III. This interesting city has a range of architectural styles, from British settlement to new modern Penang. The multicultural society allows for a wealth of cultural activities, events and foods. From the market atmosphere, the historic Colonial era or to the current economic centre, Penang and George Town have something to offer everyone.

HimejiHimeji is an attractive city, situated in Hyogo Province which is 480 kilometres south-west of Tokyo. Himeji has a population of 535,945 and gained a city government in 1889. Himeji has a very colourful history, from its beginnings as a castle town to its current day presence as a vibrant cultural centre and a hub for economic and industrial activity.

Himeji is also well known for having the oldest wooden castle in Japan. Himeji Castle was registered as having World Cultural Heritage status in 1993 for its beauty and design and is often referred to as the “White Heron Castle” due to its white walls and design.

As the people of Himeji say, “Himeji - vigorous, prosperous and warm-hearted”.

QingdaoQingdao is a major city in eastern Shandong Province, Eastern China with a population of over 8.715 million (2010 census). Qingdao stands on the southern coastline and is a particularly picturesque part of China.

Qingdao translates to “Green Island”, and while it is not entirely surrounded by the ocean, it is an island of relaxed living, bathed in fresh sea breezes. It Is regarded by some Chinese as one of the most beautiful and clean cities in China.

The city, bordered by the Yellow Sea on two sides, has the largest bathing beach in Asia and produces the Qingdao Beer, Tsingtao – one of the country’s most popular alcoholic beverages. To the east of the city, a short distance across the Yellow Sea, lie Korea and Japan, making the city an important port for international trade.

Qingdao

George Town

Himeji


3: The Benefits of Sister City Relationships Adelaide’s international partnerships promote Adelaide as an internationally connected city, known for a willingness to collaborate and share best practice initiatives and increase Adelaide’s global presence.

Trade & Economic Development

connecting and enabling small to medium businesses

to access the market, as well as supporting access to basic cultural awareness and

information for businesses contemplating links with our

Sister City markets

Cultural Exchange celebrating and sharing

culture with both communities

Tourism as a result of the above

outcomes tourism opportunities are likely

to follow

International Education an important part

of some students choosing Adelaide as a place

to study has been the existence of a city-to-city

relationship

Knowledge & Information Sharing

between cities particularly with respect to city planning, urban

development and placemaking


The City of Adelaide has five Sister Cities and two friendship cities:

Sister Cities

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand (since 1972)

Himeji, Hyogo, Japan (since 1982)

Austin, Texas, United States of America (since 1983)

George Town, Penang, Malaysia (since 1973)

Qingdao, Shandong, People’s Republic of China (since 2014)

Friendship Cities Dalian, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China (since 2001)

Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China (since 2001)

George Town

900,000

Himeji

535,945

Christchurch

341,469

Austin

885,400

Adelaide

1,290,000

Population numbers


Qingdao

8,715,000

3: ADELAIDE CITY COUNCIL

4: Adelaide’s Sister City ProgramObjectives of Adelaide’s Sister City program:• Support in-bound Government delegations from our Sister Cities to Adelaide

• Lead and/or participate in a small number of focussed out-bound delegations to our Sister Cities

» The decision to participate in out-bound delegations is based on those delegations that add the most value for the City of Adelaide and occur at a time that is suitable for the City of Adelaide.

» From time to time it is also important for Adelaide City Council to instigate a delegation in its own right to mark a specific occasion or strengthen the Sister City relationship.

• Support activities being undertaken by a range of key stakeholders

» This may include promoting training programs or delegations; supporting or connecting people to others to help them develop an idea or initiative that benefits our Sister Cities and Adelaide, and where appropriate writing a letter of introduction or in some cases a letter of support to relevant contacts in the relevant sister city government.

• Support city businesses to become ‘China ready’

» Providing information and referring city businesses to the range of education, support and cultural awareness training delivered by a number of providers.

• Provide support for initiatives that celebrate Adelaide and the culture of one of our Sister Cities

• Act as a connector for other South Australian local government authorities

» Providing advice to other local government authorities who may wish to form their own friendly or Sister City agreement with an international city.


16 SISTER CITIES Adelaide South Australia16 SISTER CITIES Adelaide South Australia

3: ADELAIDE CITY COUNCIL

5: GuidelinesAdelaide City Council is not actively seeking to establish additional Sister City relationships; however, requests are occasionally received.

Sister City requests can only be considered if they are received from another city government.

The development of meaningful, mutually beneficial international partnerships must be supported at the local level by genuine, collaborative partnerships with government, industry, media and the wider community. Council’s role is to facilitate connections on behalf of other stakeholders rather than taking sole responsibility for management of international relations.

Before entering into any further relationships with other cities, Council takes into account the extent to which the prospective city complies with the following criteria:

1. Significant historical, cultural, social or geographic similarities between Adelaide and the prospective city;

2. The prospective city aligns with Council’s strategic plan;

3. The prospective city aligns with the South Australian Government priorities;

4. There is support from government and other organisations and willingness to enter into partnership arrangements involving cross-sectoral collaborations;

5. Significant community support for the proposed relationship;

6. There are existing connections including political or economic ties, established school/university/business exchange programs;

7. The prospective city has a good international reputation or exhibition of global best practice, particularly in areas of interest and relevance to Adelaide;

8. The establishment of the proposed relationship will benefit the City of Adelaide;

9. There is funding available for the relationship;

10. The prospective city is willing to create a contract agreement with review times and capacity to effectively resource the proposed level of commitment. Building new international relationships can be a lengthy process. Genuine requests are carefully considered by the City of Adelaide, which involves obtaining feedback and support from the South Australian Government and relevant stakeholders in the City of Adelaide community. This can include a series of meetings, briefings and workshops to obtain the relevant information. The request and support information are presented to Council in a report. Each request must be resolved by Council before an international relationship can progress further.

There are a range of partnership types that apply to international connections, depending on the level of engagement and the resource commitment and project management required. These include Memoranda of Understanding, Friendly Cooperative Agreements, alliances, formal Sister City connections or membership of international associations.

If you wish to consider being a Sister City with Adelaide or partnering with Adelaide please send your request in writing to [email protected]

To make enquiries or to provide feedback, please contact the City of Adelaide.

Phone (08) 8203 7203

Write Adelaide City Council, GPO Box 2252, Adelaide SA 5001

Email [email protected]

Website adelaidecitycouncil.com/sister-cities

Sign up to our quarterly newsletter and keep up-to-date with what’s happening.


7: FAQWhat is a Sister City?

The Sister Cities movement is a worldwide concept which originated soon after World War II. National Sister Cities efforts were independently started on many different continents, with the same goal; to help develop enduring networks of communication between the cities of the world to cut across boundaries and reduce polarisation among nations.

Sister Cities are a formal connection between two cities that help develop enduring networks of communication between cities of the world, increase understanding and relationships at a person-to-person level through city-to-city relationships.

Which cities are Adelaide’s Sister Cities?

Adelaide has five Sister Cities and two Friendship Cities.

Sister Cities

Austin, Texas, United States of America (since 1983)

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand (since 1972)

George Town, Penang, Malaysia (since 1973)

Himeji, Hyogo, Japan (since 1982)

Qingdao, Shandong, People’s Republic of China (since 2014)

Friendship Cities

Dalian, Liaoning, People’s Republic of China (since 2001)

Chengdu, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China (since 2001)

What is the difference between a Sister City and a Friendship City?

Although the terms Sister City and Friendship City are often used interchangeably, they are actually quite different.

A Sister City is a formal agreement between two cities that is broad-based and long-term. A Sister City becomes official with a signing ceremony of the top-elected officials of the two cities. Sister City partnerships have the potential to carry out the widest possible diversity of activities, including every type of municipal, business, professional, educational and cultural exchange.

A Friendship City (or Friendship Cooperative Agreement) is a partnership between two cities that is more limited in scope and are sometimes created when the city already has a Sister City with a city in the same country i.e. Chengdu and Perth are Sister Cities.


5: LITTLE INDIA INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITY

How can I get involved with Sister Cities?

There are many community groups and friendship organisations that are based in Adelaide that have a shared interest with a particular Sister City. If you would like to know more please contact us and we will be able to put you in contact with the relevant groups.

Is there a Sister City committee?

No, the City of Adelaide used to have a committee for each of the Sister Cities but these committees finished in 2002.

Can you fund my holiday to a Sister City?

We highly encourage South Australians to visit our Sister Cities but unfortunately we do not offer funding for visits by individuals or groups.

I am travelling to one of your Sister Cities would you like me to take a pack of information?

Thank you for your kind offer but we already work closely with our Sister City counterparts to promote Adelaide.

Will the Lord Mayor speak at our event?

If you would like the Lord Mayor to speak at your event please send your request via email to [email protected]

Will the Adelaide City Council promote my event (related to one of the Sister Cities)?

We would like to hear about your Sister City related events. If you would like your event promoted please send your request via email to [email protected]

Will the Adelaide City Council fund my event (related to one of the Sister Cities)?

Please send your request via email to [email protected]

I am writing a school assignment/report and would like further information on Sister Cities?

Please visit the website for all Sister City information adelaidecitycouncil.com/sister-cities


25 Pirie Street AdelaideSouth Australia 5000adelaidecitycouncil.com

adelaide, south australia · our sister cities • act as a connector for other south australian...

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