Geraldton council votes to maintain relationship with sister cities in Japan and China

The 25-year relationship between Geraldton and the Japanese city of Kosai will remain, as well as the 10-year partnership with Zhanjiang in China.

The City of Greater Geraldton formed sister city agreements with Kosai, in the Shizuoka Prefecture of Japan, back in 1998 and Zhanjiang, in the Guangdong province of China, in 2013.

The City also established partnerships with the Chinese cities, Zhoushan and Linfen in 2014 and 2015 respectively.

These relationships have a number of strategic and economic benefits for the community, but COVID halted operations.

During a council meeting on Wednesday, the policy to establish international relationships was unanimously voted to be retired at 12-0.

Council’s intention was to no longer seek new relationships but maintain the current ones. Support of this move was voiced by councillors during discussion.

Cr Robert Hall said that council should “keep this alive, I feel very strongly it should stay as is.”

Cr Victor Tanti said it would be best to “keep the existing relations we have and don’t close-off situations if they arise”.