COUNCILLOR TRAVEL SPECIAL Agenda Item 6.2 COMMITTEE REPORT

10 August 2004 ATTENDANCE AT 2004 WORLD HISTORICAL & CULTURAL CITIES EXPO,

Report by Deputy Lord Mayor Susan Riley

Purpose

1. To report to the Councillor Travel Special Committee on the attendance of Susan Riley, Deputy Lord Mayor, at the 2004 World Historical & Cultural Cities Expo held in Nanjing, in May 2004.

Background

2. Melbourne and Nanjing entered into a Cooperative Relationship in August 2002. The aim of the relationship is to encourage exchanges between the cities, particularly in the areas of business and education.

3. The Councillor Travel Special Committee, on 23 March 2004, approved the participation of the Deputy Lord Mayor at the World Historical & Cultural Cities Expo from 1 to 5 May 2004.

4. The City of Melbourne was invited to participate in the Exposition by the Nanjing Municipal People’s Government, which met the Deputy Lord Mayor’s travel, accommodation and other local costs. The Deputy Lord Mayor was accompanied by Mark Drew, Manager Customer & International Relations.

Details of Travel

5. The World Historical & Cultural Cities Expo was organised by the Nanjing Municipal People’s Government and the Department of Culture of Province, with the support of various central government ministries, including the National Commission of The People’s Republic of China for UNESCO.

6. The Exposition comprised of the Forum of Mayors from World Historical & Cultural Cities as well as forums on , cultural & artistic performances from China and abroad and a youth forum.

7. The Forum of Mayors from World Historical & Cultural Cities involved presentations by each of the 21 cities represented, including a presentation by the Deputy Lord Mayor on behalf of Melbourne. Audio tapes and copies of the presentations are available.

8. The cities that participated in the Forum were: Anyang, Barcelona, Beijing, Chengde, Daejeon, Florence, Hangzhou, Kaifeng, Kyoto, Leipzig, Lijang, Luoyang, Melaka, Melbourne, Nagoya, Nanjing, Pingyao, St Petersburg, Vienna, Xian and Zhengzhou.

9. All 21 cities then participated in a Mayoral Dialogue that explored the following themes:

9.1. importance of protecting the historic and cultural legacy of famous cities; 9.2. methods and practical experience in protecting the historic and cultural legacies of famous cities; and

9.3. relationship between the protection of historic and cultural legacy and urban residents.

10. The staging of this Forum was significant in that all 21 cities strongly recognised the importance of protecting the historic and cultural legacies of their cities. There was consensus that there does not have to be conflict between the preservation of cultural heritage and modernisation. Culture is both tangible (ie buildings, relics) and the intangible. The cost of correcting mistakes (if possible at all) can be extremely high.

11. The Deputy Lord Mayor raised the issue of graffiti and sought opinions from the other cities as to potential solutions. Most Chinese cities are yet to experience the type of severe graffiti issues as other parts of the world and so this issue was not extensively discussed.

12. The Forum was attended by approximately 50 media representatives and received wide coverage in local television and newspapers.

13. The program that was organised for the visiting city representatives is shown in Attachment 1.

14. The Deputy Lord Mayor undertook a number of additional meetings and activities. These included:

14.1. Meeting with Mr Lincoln Wu, Chief Executive Officer of Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VECCI) office in Nanjing:

14.1.1. Mr Wu briefed the Deputy Lord Mayor on the activities of the office, which employs three people. He indicated that there was a strong and cooperative working relationship between Austrade, the Victorian Business Office and VECCI and emphasised the importance of the Australian representatives working together; and

14.1.2. Mr Wu advised of the examples where consortia were put together that utilised the expertise and partnerships of Australia, international and Chinese organisations;

14.2. Visit to Caulfield Grammar Nanjing Campus – Mr Mal Prichard, Principal:

14.2.1. This was a very impressive operation that caters for six groups of up to 60 students per year. Staffing includes nine Australian teachers, including two that come with each group, plus 17 Chinese support staff. The students are immersed into the Chinese culture and are required to move around using public transport or bicycles (the campus does not own any vehicles by choice);

14.2.2. Various assignments are set for the students that require them to speak with the locals, buy ingredients for meals (with very limited budget) from local markets and shops and to survey local residents about their living conditions, employment, etc. The cost of the five-week program is $2 800 (including $1 500 airfare). There is no doubt that this program brings significant benefits to the students who participate and to Melbourne’s profile in this region; and

14.2.3. The campus building was purpose built to Australian standards while complying with Chinese requirements. The cost of the building was met by Nanjing, while Caulfield Grammar met the cost of fit out. Caulfield Grammar pays a rental fee for use of the building.

2 14.3. Visit to High School Affiliated to Nanjing Normal :

14.3.1. This school is immediately adjacent to the Caulfield Campus and has an impressive academic record. The school has its own featuring details of its high- profile alumni. The school has a major expansion program underway, with a new school being established in an industrial park that will cater for 5 000 students, including internationals; and

14.3.2. This school is looking to undertake joint projects with Australia and there was considerable enthusiasm to undertake programs with Melbourne. This will be followed up over the next few months.

14.4. Visit to Austrade / Victorian Business Office. Meeting with Mr Frank Liu, Business Development Manager, Austrade:

14.4.1. Jiangsu is the second highest consumption market in China and is ideally located. The three cities of Nanjing, and Hangzhou make up a dynamic economic zone. There are approximately 600 Australian investments in this region. This region has been one of China’s most prosperous for approximately 300 years;

14.4.2. Mr Liu confirmed the close working partnership with the Victorian Business Office and VECCI. He indicated that, in the main, their areas of business were different but complimentary. The three operations regularly exchange information and work cooperatively together;

14.4.3. Nanjing is the third largest education city in China with 47 and colleges and Mr Liu expressed strong support for the Council’s efforts to develop management training programs with Nanjing. As has proved the case with Tianjin, such programs would be of major benefit to the broader relationship between Melbourne, Victoria and Australia and Nanjing/Jiangsu; and

14.4.4. Mr Liu also highlighted the potential to attract inbound tourism from Nanjing and requested copies of any relevant materials about Melbourne as a visitor and business destination.

14.5. Meeting with Vice Mayor of Nanjing, Mr Yang Zhi:

14.5.1. The main issue discussed at this meeting was the possibility of establishing a management training program with Nanjing, similar to the Tianjin Government Leaders Program; and

14.5.2. Discussions have been taking place with Nanjing about this proposal since July 2003. The Vice Mayor expressed interest in the development of management competencies and advised that Nanjing currently sends some managers to New Zealand. To date, Nanjing has been satisfied with the curricula offered in New Zealand. In addition, the rise of the Australian dollar over the past six months resulted in the training courses in Melbourne becoming increasingly expensive to undertake.

15. The Nanjing Municipal People’s Government is to be congratulated on its initiative to stage such a major event devoted to the protection of the cultural heritage of cities and to the cele bration of culture as a whole.

16. Nanjing is ideally located in a dynamic economic region and there are considerable opportunities to exploit the already strong profile of Melbourne, Victoria and Australia in this region. This is best achieved by supporting existing linkages such as VECCI, Austrade, the Victorian Business Office and the Caulfield Grammar Nanjing campus.

3 17. Considerable progress has been made in negotiations with the Nanjing Municipal People’s Government for the development of management training programs. Other opportunities exist for the development of broader education exchanges between Melbourne and Nanjing. Again, it is considered that the best chance of success in the development of such programs will be through a partnership approach with the Victorian Government, Commonwealth Government and educational institutions in Melbourne.

Cost

18. Costs associated with the visit were met by the Nanjing Municipal People’s Government. Incidental costs of $48.15 were incurred by the Deputy Lord Mayor.

Recommendation

19. That the Councillor Travel Special Committee note this report and approve:

19.1. an approach being made to the Victorian Government and Commonwealth Government for cooperative efforts in business, education and management training programs;

19.2. a photographic exhibition of Melbourne’s sister cities and other relationship cities to be staged;

19.3. international relations display to be developed for second floor area (outside Lord Mayor’s Office);

19.4. appropriate measures be taken to gain maximum leverage from Melbourne’s signatory status to the Nanjing Declaration of World & Historical Cities Cultural Exchange & Heritage Conservation; and

19.5. for example, utilising this Declaration in the submission for the National Heritage Listing for the Royal Exhibition Buildings.

Attachments: 4 0. World Historical & Cultural Cities Expo – Visiting City Representatives Program

Attachment 1 Agenda Item 6.2 Councillor Travel Special Committee 10 August 2004

World Historical & Cultural Cities Expo Visiting City Representatives Program

Friday, 30 April Cultural performance attended by the President of China, Mr Hu Jintao.

Saturday, 1 May Forum of Mayors from World Historical and Cultural Cities - Forum of Mayors from World Historical & Cultural Cities - Signing of Declaration of World & Historical Cities Cultural Exchange & Heritage Conservation - Mayoral Dialogue - Media conference Ode to Peace Concert featuring performances by Nanjing Chinese Traditional Orchestra, Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra and a combined performance by both orchestras plus members of the Chinese Orchestra.

Sunday, 2 May Visit to Chaotian Palace (originally established in for educating the children of nobility): - Ming Dynasty Royal Pilgrimage show - Tour of - Opening of Renaissance Art Collection Exhibition, 15th – 16th century from the Bellini Collection, Florence. Visit to Dr Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, Ming Tombs and Nanjing Ancient City Wall. - Dr Sun Yat-sen was the leader of the Chinese revolution that brought democracy to China. His remains were removed from Beijing and interned at this location in June 1929. This area is the single largest tourist attraction in China, with crowds of 100 000 per day not uncommon. o The Nanjing City Wall was constructed in the Ming period between 1366 and 1386 and measures 33 km, making it the longest city wall ever constructed. Visit to Confucius Temple, a lively market and entertainment district and Zhan Yuan Garden, a sprawling (formerly private) garden complex.

Monday, 3 May Memorial of the Nanjing Massacre - A stark memorial to the brutal massacre of 300 000 Nanjing citizens by the invading Japanese army in 1937. Nanjing Brocade Institute and Museum. - Nanjing Brocade has a history of over 1 500 years. It is the only surviving brocade type in China and its manufacture still uses centuries-old technology. Chinese Family Residential Neighbourhood.

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Visit to sister cities photographic exhibition. - The exhibition comprised of photographs of each of Nanjing’s sister cities and other cities that it has formal relationships with. This was a very informative exhibition and was an excellent representation of Nanjing’s partner cities. It is proposed to stage a similar photographic exhibition in Melbourne of Melbourne’s partner cities. Concert by Vienna Orchestra.

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