In short:
Wyndham councillors will travel to Changzhou and Shanghai in September to boost international ties under a Sister Cities grant. The visit will focus on education, culture, tourism and economic opportunities.
Councillors to travel under Sister Cities grant
Wyndham City will strengthen its international connections this September with a councillor delegation travelling to China under a fully funded $20,000 grant from Sister Cities Australia.
Deputy Mayor Cr Josh Gilligan, Cr Preet Singh and Cr Larry Zhao will spend two days in Changzhou and two days in Shanghai from 7 to 12 September.
Wyndham signed a Friendly City Agreement with Changzhou in 2019, but opportunities were limited by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a delegation from Changzhou visiting Wyndham in 2024, this return visit is described as an important step in building momentum and realising the partnership’s potential.
Changzhou is a city of more than 5.3 million people in Jiangsu Province, Victoria’s Sister State.
During their stay, Wyndham councillors will meet municipal leaders, tour business and manufacturing precincts, and visit cultural and educational institutions. The program is expected to highlight opportunities in education, innovation, enterprise and tourism, in line with the Wyndham 2050 vision.
Cr Gilligan said the visit is a valuable chance to foster collaboration.
“Our Friendly City Agreement with Changzhou is about creating opportunities for Wyndham’s community – from education and cultural exchange through to economic development and innovation,” he said.
“This visit will allow us to learn first-hand from Changzhou’s world-class education and technology sectors while showcasing Wyndham’s strengths as a growing and dynamic city.”
“Following two days in Changzhou, we will travel to Shanghai, where we will explore educational, tourism and cultural sites.”
He said education is expected to be a strong focus of the visit, with Wyndham schools already connected to schools in China through partnerships that allow student and staff exchanges, cultural immersion and shared learning.
“The visit also highlights the long-term vision of Wyndham’s international relationships. Sister City relationships create lasting cultural and educational connections, promote mutual understanding, and open doors for trade and investment. By nurturing these ties, Wyndham is building pathways for our community and gathering knowledge to support our growth.”
