A delegation from Lae, Papua New Guinea, has been in Cairns as part of a five-day visit aimed at further enhancing the relationship and opportunities between the two regions.
It has been four decades since a Sister Cities relationship was officially signed between Cairns and Lae, during which time numerous cultural and business interactions have occurred.
Lae is PNG's second largest city with a population of about 100,000 people, is home to the country's largest port and is considered its industrial capital.
"Four decades ago, our cities made a commitment to friendship and cooperation that has since grown into a far-reaching relationship, enriching our respective cities," Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said.
"As we reflect on that journey, it's clear this partnership has created significant economic, social, and cultural benefits for our communities.
"Looking ahead, as we celebrate this 40-year milestone, let us recommit ourselves to nurturing and strengthening the bonds of friendship and collaboration between Cairns and Lae."
The delegation, which includes members of Lae City Authority, Lae Tourism Bureau, Lae Chamber of Commerce, and Labour Mobility Groups arrived in Cairns on Friday with a clear focus on furthering the Sister Cities relationship.
This includes the strengthen strategic and professional interactions, sharing knowledge and information on projects, and identify more opportunities and partnerships, such as arts and cultural exchanges.
As part of their itinerary, they have met with local PNG community, and visited a number of the city's cultural and entertainment venues, including the Xavier Rudd concert at the Cairns Performing Arts Centre, Munro Martin Parklands, Tanks Arts Centre, the Court House Gallery and the newly opened Mulgrave Gallery.
They also toured the Cairns Botanic Gardens, as well as outdoor sporting facilities and parklands, and visited the Material Recovery Facility.
Lae City Authority CEO, Robin Calistus, reinforced the importance of the Sister Cities relationship with Cairns.
"The collaboration between Lae and Cairns symbolises the significance of sharing experiences in developing strong partnerships that foster collaboration and exchanges aimed at achieving common development goals," Mr Calistus said.
"Lae is fortunate to be associated with Cairns and is eager to learn from this partnership.
"We also look forward to expanding our networks with other cities as we explore opportunities in different countries.
"Recently, we signed a State of Intent with the city of Charleston, North Carolina, paving the way for the eventual signing of a Sister Cities agreement next year.
"Lae feels proud to be at the forefront of Sister City initiatives in Papua New Guinea, thanks to our relationship with Cairns."
Cairns Mayor Amy Eden hosted a special function to acknowledge the delegation and the city's close ties with PNG at Council officers today.
Visits of this kind also play an important role in maintaining business contacts through organisations such as Tradelinked, Pacific Australia Labour Mobility, Cairns Chamber of Commerce, and Tourism Tropical North Queensland.
