Chinese agreement on the cards

A formal trade agreement between the City of Albany and the Chinese city of Linyi could be on the cards next year, after a whirlwind visit by six government officials on Thursday, December 12.

The tour, hosted by winemakers Rob Wignall and John Sprigg, has been heralded as an “incredibly important day” and first step in fostering economic links between the two cities.

Mr Wignall said the delegation were “very, very impressed” and expressed particular interest in the University of WA, importing food and wine and exporting fertiliser.

“They have done a great deal of homework on this city and a huge amount on our agricultural methods,” he said.

“I think this is something really out of the ordinary to attract a country of 1.6 billion people to come to your city … I am very, very, excited for the future.”

First Vice Mayor of Linyi Municipal People’s Government Zuo Peiting said he had been given a very good impression of Albany.

“We want to encourage mutual understanding and become close, even though there is great distance,” he said.

UWA director Jennifer O’Neil said the university was keen to create partnerships wherever possible to accommodate international students.

“We would welcome any partnerships in research given this region’s strength in agriculture and natural resource management,” she said.

City of Albany community services executive director Cameron Woods said it was early days but the economic development committee would discuss a sister city agreement early next year after the City received a formal invitation for the reciprocal visit to Linyi.

“The first step is to establish a friendship to determine what synergies there are between the city of Linyi, the City and the Great Southern region more broadly,” he said.

“They are a major producer of slow-release fertiliser … their interest in our agriculture methods is the strongest from an economic point of view.”

Mr Woods said possible education-based agreements could potentially boost the tourism industry and also benefit local businesses.

“It is a good fit with the City’s vision of developing City of Albany as a true regional university city,” he said.

“At this stage there is a fair bit of work to do in terms of discussing opportunities that would lead to economic outcomes for Albany.

“It is a priority for the economic development committee but not an immediate one as our focus is on Anzac commemorations but we will look to further this new friendship to an economic and trading relationship.”