REDLAND City Council has spent decades forging links with cities across Asia that continue to promote cultural understanding, education and economic cooperation.
As South East Queensland prepares for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, those international connections could become more valuable than ever.
The Chinese Consulate- General in Brisbane says sister city relationships deliver practical benefits for both communities.
“We strongly believe that the cities either in Australia or in China could benefit a lot by building sister city or friendship city relationships,” a spokesperson said.
“With sister city and friendship city relationships, a small city could enlarge its market scope and economic resources from outside.”
The consulate said the partnerships also created stable channels for education, tourism and cultural exchange while helping people from both countries better understand one another.
Redland City’s international engagement began through friendship city agreements and today includes formal relationships with four Asian municipalities.
The strongest is with the Chinese coastal city of Qinhuangdao, which officially became Redland City’s Sister City in 2018 after almost a decade of friendship agreements and cooperation.
Located about 300km east of Beijing on the Bohai Sea, Qinhuangdao is a major port city with strengths in tourism, shipping and advanced manufacturing.
According to the Consulate, Redland City and Qinhuangdao have shared friendly exchanges for more than 20 years, with seven high-level delegations, business missions and student exchanges strengthening the relationship.
The consulate said the two cities shared many similarities as coastal communities with strengths in tourism, health care, education and natural environmental assets.
It also highlighted opportunities to celebrate Qinhuangdao’s 2000-year history alongside Redlands Coast’s rich Indigenous culture, while expanding cooperation in marine industries, renewable energy, health care and advanced manufacturing.
Qinhuangdao also hosted football during the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games and has a strong sailing culture.
“Sailing events are very popular in Qinhuangdao,” the consulate said.
“These are also areas of future cooperation ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.”
The consulate identified opportunities to expand cultural exchanges through festivals, art exhibitions, language programs and community visits, while strengthening education through sister-school partnerships, student and teacher exchanges, and collaboration between universities and TAFE institutions.
It also sees scope to jointly promote tourism by showcasing the Redlands Coast’s islands and natural environment alongside Qinhuangdao’s beaches and Great Wall heritage, while increasing cooperation in health care, aged care, agriculture and infrastructure.
Redland City also maintains a cooperation and exchange agreement with Wuchuan, set up in 2015.
Located on the South China Sea, Wuchuan is a rapidly developing coastal city known for its fishing industry, agriculture and subtropical climate.
Redland City’s ties with South Korea date back to 2008 through a Friendship City agreement with Yongin, one of the country’s fastest- growing cities.
The partnership has supported educational exchanges and strengthened people-to- people connections.
In Japan, a Cultural and Educational Cooperation Agreement signed in 2015 established formal ties with Kani in Gifu Prefecture, creating opportunities for cultural and educational partnerships.
