Miura, Japan
Warrnambool City Council began its sister city ties with Miura in 1992 when the Warrnambool-Miura Friendship Committee was formed, now the Warrnambool Miura Sister City Association. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the sister city relationship.
Miura is situated on the Miura Peninsula, 50 kms south of Tokyo with a population of 40,000. Miura is sustained by the fishing industries, particularly squid, tuna, abalone and fish processing. Rural produce includes radishes, cabbages, pumpkins, melons and watermelons.
Over the years members of the community have helped cultivate the relationship between the two coastal cities, both popular beach destinations for tourists in the summer season. Warrnambool houses the Miura Friendship Garden to celebrate the sister-city relationship.
The two cities share a strong bond with residents from both cities enjoying cultural exchange through study or employment.
Councillors from Warrnambool and Miura have experienced the hospitality of each other as both cities have hosted visits between the two over the past decade.
Changchun City, China
Warrnambool City Council first explored the possibility of a sister city relationship with Changchun in 2010 with the signing of a sister city agreement taking place in August 2012.
In March of this year 2023, the 10th anniversary of the sister city relationship was celebrated and renewed. The two cities carried out exchanges in various forms across fields of economy, trade, science and technology and culture to promote common prosperity and development.
Changchun is the capital of Jilin Province in North East China. It is one of the 15 Deputy Provincial Cities approved by Central Government, with a total population of 7.6 million people of which the urban Changchun population is 3.6 million and growing at 400,000 people per annum. It covers a significant footprint of 20,604 sqkm. The city is situated in the central location of Northeast Asia of China, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Mongolia and the Russian Far East. It is therefore an important transport and logistics hub for Northeast Asia.
Changchun is a major manufacturing area which produces approximately 2 million motor vehicles per annum, 2,500 train carriages and is a large producer of farm equipment. In 2018Evolution Rail (comprising Downer, CRRP Changchun and Plenary) has been engaged by the Victorian Government to deliver the world-class High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMT) fleet with the first train to enter testing by the end of 2018. Further information can be found here.
Community and International Relations Advisory Committee
The purpose of the Committee will be to provide strategic advice on Council’s sister city relationships, international relations and to advance Council’s progress against the Welcoming Cities Standard.