Mildura Rural City Council and Sister City Kumatori will reinforce their long-standing relationship this week with the first visit to the region by Kumatori Town Office officials in seven years.
Mayor Liam Wood said he had been looking forward to welcoming back leaders and students from Mildura's Sister City in Japan, who arrived in Sunraysia on the weekend.
"Due to the timing of the pandemic it's been too long between visits as part of our Sister City relationship and we're looking forward to making up for lost time over the coming week," Cr Wood said.
Mildura's Sister City relationship with Kumatori dates back to 1984 and involves regular reciprocating education and cultural visits between the two cities.
This year's Kumatori delegation arrived today ahead of a week-long schedule of engagements, including visits to Chaffey Secondary College, important local history sites and Murray-Sunset and Hattah-Kulkyne National Parks.
The delegation will also tour major project sites including the Powerhouse Precinct, as well as visit several local businesses representing a range of industries from horticulture through to hospitality, concluding on Saturday 19 August.
Cr Wood said the visiting delegation would be led by Kumatori Town Mayor Mr Toshiji Fujihara and include senior Kumatori health and education officials, interpreters and 10 students.
The 10 Kumatori students will be billeted with Chaffey Secondary College students' families during their stay as part of an exchange program that is part of the Sister City relationship.
Cr Wood said the strong and long-running relationship between the two cities was based around cultural, educational and industrial exchanges.
"There is so much we can learn from other cultures and countries, which is why relationships like our Sister City arrangement with Kumatori are so important," the Mayor said.
"It's a valuable opportunity for us at Council, the local community, and our education and business sectors to share their knowledge and experiences, while at the same time taking in how these sectors operate in Japan.
"This could provide a host of opportunities for improvement as well as potentially open up avenues for trade."
BACKGROUND
While Mildura's Sister City relationship with Kumatori dates back to 1984, the current agreement was signed in 2001 and pledges:
"Kumatori Town, Sennann-gun, Osaka, Japan and Mildura Rural City, Victoria, Australia will continue to hold friendly exchanges. In order to deepen the mutual understanding of the citizens of Kumatori and Mildura through educational, cultural and industrial exchanges, and contribute to a friendly relationship between Japan and Australia while working toward worldwide peace and prosperity, Kumatori Town and Mildura Rural City pledge that a sister city contract is concluded".
As part of the arrangement between the two cities, Mayors, Councillors and senior Council staff exchange visits every two years, which generally coincides with the student exchange between Kumatori and Chaffey Secondary College, which is coordinated by the College.
