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Proud to be international 151

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153 Contents

1. Cardiff’s International Policy Page 3 154 155 2. Twinning Links Page 4

3. International Networks Page 7

4. Supporting Cardiff Page 9

Carbon Lite City Media Capital Competitive Capital European City of Sport Sustainable Travel City Open City International Development Education

5. Partners Page 14

Page 1 Introduction Ever since its emergence as one of the Cities, as centres of knowledge creation, busiest ports in the world during the cultural diversity and energy use are best industrial revolution Cardiff has been an placed to take advantage of the international city, playing a crucial role in opportunities presented by globalisation connecting Wales, and the South Wales and will be at the heart of how the world Valleys in particular, to the global responds to the global challenges. economy. And so it remains today. Cardiff Council’s International Policy Globalisation, in the form of the free outlines how international activity through movement of ideas, information, people, city links, networks, and projects supports products and capital, necessitates that Cardiff’s development as a quality, cities have an international outlook. connected capital city for Wales. Similarly, the credit crunch and the global recession, climate change and international migration present challenges which do not respect national boundaries.

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Cardiff’s International Policy

Cardiff Council’s first formal Through these links Cardiff will work with international link was created with international cities to develop joint- Stuttgart in 1955, the year Cardiff projects, sponsored by supra-national became the capital city of Wales. Over organisations, and delivered for the the course of the next four decades benefit of local citizens. Stuttgart was joined by Lugansk (1958), Nantes (1964), Xiamen (1983) and Cardiff Council will therefore finally Hordaland (1996). increasingly be working on a project basis with other international cities. A diverse range of social and cultural Naturally then, the Council will work with activities have flowed from these a range of cities for discrete time-periods twinning links, and continue to do so rather than establishing lasting formal today. Their importance is recognised relationships with cities. Fruitful by their status as High Priority Cities in partnerships and relationships with cities the International Partner City developed over the course of a project Assessment Matrix, a system which will be reviewed at the conclusion of compares Cardiff with other cities across each project and the potential for a series of key criteria. The Matrix was developing a longer-term link considered. developed in 2006 to support a more business-focused approach to international links and activities and to identify those cities that provided the greatest opportunities for cooperation.

Going forward, Cardiff will look to develop city-to-city links with cities which reflect the city’s priorities and ambitions in 2010. Understanding the different approaches and solutions that cities around the world are developing in response to universal challenges will remain important for Cardiff, particularly in these times of fiscal restraint. Page 3 2

Twinning

Cardiff’s longest standing formal city links are with its twin cities, the oldest dating back to 1955. For over half a century these links, and their strong social, economic and cultural programmes of activities have broadened the horizons and enriched the cultural experience of generations of our and our sister-cities’ citizens.

Page 4 Stuttgart

Cardiff’s oldest twinning link is with Stuttgart City Council regularly takes part Stuttgart, state capital of Baden- in Cardiff’s International Food & Drink Württemberg, Europe's leading high- Festival, and participated in an exchange tech region and Germany's strongest of horticultural apprentices in 2005, an commercial metropolitan area. initiative that is intended to be expanded over the course of the coming year. Like Cardiff, Stuttgart is a city of both art and industry. World-famous automotive Stuttgart is also a partner in the ECCE companies and state-of-the-art Innovation project on the Creative academic and industrial research and Industries (see page 12) development facilities exist alongside the state opera and ballet companies and major art collections at the State and Stuttgart Galleries.

Secondary, tertiary and higher educational exchanges continue to play a key role in the link, which has expanded over recent years to include sporting, youth, cultural and community activities. There has also been an increase in professional study visits, with representatives from Cardiff taking part in waste management, planning and, community safety visits to Stuttgart.

Page 5 Nantes Hordaland County

Nantes, the historic capital of Pays de la Cardiff has been twinned with Hordaland sponsor the Christmas tree at Loire region, shares many similarities with Hordaland County since 1996. The the Norwegian Church and in recent Cardiff. Both have a population of around County’s administration is based in years have brought Hordaland County 300,000, a developing knowledge the city of Bergen, Norway’s second musicians to give a public performance economy and thriving universities, an city, the ‘Gateway to the Fjords’ and to mark the lighting of the tree. They are emerging creative industries sector and a home to many of Norway’s major gas also regular exhibitors at Cardiff’s strong tourist offer. and oil companies. International Food & Drink Festival. The link is also characterised by youth The link began with secondary school Despite the relative youth of the exchanges - most prominently 16 exchanges, and a significant number of twinning link, Cardiff has historic links students come to Cardiff each year to secondary, tertiary and higher with the region, exemplified by the study for A/S levels at local schools. educational visits continue to be made presence of the Norwegian Church in to Cardiff each year. In recent years Cardiff Bay, which serves as a focal point A number of professional visits have Cardiff and Nantes Councils have for the relationship with representatives taken place in recent years between our cooperated on horticultural projects from Hordaland County serving on the two cities to share experiences on a wide based around the RHW Spring Show and Church’s Advisory Board. range of subjects including the Rugby World Cup, which have included development of their cruise industry, exchanges of gardening apprentices. planning regulations, human resource After a short break, negotiations are management and cultural tourism. currently underway to reintroduce the annual youth sports exchange with Nantes to give young athletes and their coaches a first experience of international competition, and to develop a similar exchange for horticultural apprentices between the two cities.

Cardiff Council works closely with Nantes through the Conference of Atlantic Arc’s Sustainable Urban Development Commission, where Nantes provides the secretariat function and Cardiff is the lead city on the Climate Change workgroup. Cardiff also works closely with Nantes Metropole on the ECCE Innovation Creative Industries project.

Page 6 Xiamen

In 1983 Cardiff became the first city in the UK to twin with a city in China. The port of Xiamen is in Fujian Province in South East China, across the straits from Taiwan Island, and is one of China’s first Special Economic Zones. It is thus one of the most important ports Lugansk for international trade in China - 36 of Cardiff has been twinned with Lugansk Over recent years the British Council’s the world’s top 500 companies have a since 1958. Lugansk is 560 miles east Donetsk office (which includes Lugansk) presence in Xiamen. of the Ukrainian capital, Kiev, and is a have managed a major project which major industrial city and transport hub. included the secondment of British The recent 25 year anniversary served Council Lugansk’s Deputy Director to to reignite activities between Cardiff The industrial base is heavy industries, British Council’s Cardiff office. British and Xiamen, though the cities’ mechanical engineering, and textiles. Council Donetsk subsequently provided universities had kept a close working The State Medical University, Eastern funding for several study visits to relationship. The Council now works Ukraine National University, the Cardiff by city and regional politicians closely with the new Confucius Institute Pedagogical University and Sate and University students. at Cardiff University, which is staffed by Agricultural University are all based in visiting academics from Xiamen Lugansk, as is the Ministry of Internal University, on numerous local projects Affairs of Ukraine. including a programme of Mandarin language taster sessions for Cardiff Despite the economic crisis in Ukraine in primary schools. the 1990s, regular contact was maintained with Lugansk, and a varied programme of school, professional and community exchanges have taken place.

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International Networks Participation in international city networks is vital for developing a city’s international activities. Two main benefits flow from Cardiff Council’s membership of city networks:

• It strengthens the voice of the city, providing a medium through which the Council can engage in trans-national policy development, the European policy agenda in particular; • It provides the opportunity to bring like-minded cities together to create a consortium for developing transnational projects.

Cardiff participates in a number of city networks, some geographically defined, others thematic.

Page 8 Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities Cities of the Isles Commonwealth Local Government http://www.atlanticcities.eu/ The Cities of the Isles network is a Forum The Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities partnership of six UK and Irish City http://www.clgf.org.uk/ (CAAC) network brings together over 40 Councils: Belfast; Cardiff; Dublin; The Commonwealth Local Government medium-sized European cities and urban Edinburgh; Glasgow; and Liverpool. The Forum (CLGF) works to promote and networks from the western peripheries Partnership was created in 2000 strengthen effective democratic local of Europe. This network provides a following the expansion of the Irish Sea government throughout the platform for these cities to influence the Partner’s Conferences. Each Commonwealth and to facilitate the development of European policies and a participating city agreed to come exchange of good practice in local means of contributing directly to pan- together to share urban regeneration government structures and services. The European debates. experiences and to explore and develop CLGF has more than 160 members in 40 a coordinated approach to issues of Commonwealth countries including local Cardiff Council was a founding member, strategic importance. All six cities face government associations, individual and the Leader of the Council, Councillor similar regeneration challenges and the local authorities and ministries dealing Rodney Berman is currently CAAC’s network exists to facilitate the exchange with local government. Vice-President (and a former President), of information and experience on and is the UK representative on the mutual issues, policies, programmes and In March 2011 the Commonwealth network’s Executive Bureau. The legislation. Local Government Conference will be Council actively participates in a number taking place in Cardiff. For more of CAAC thematic working groups, and information on this major international recently established (and chairs) the event please see page 18. Climate Change working group. Cardiff Council is currently participating in a CLGF Good Practice Scheme with Vadodara, in Gujurat India, following on from the successful delivery of the 3-year project with Cochin, Kerala (see page 17)

Page 9 CIVITAS http://www.civitas-initiative.org/ CIVITAS is the European Union’s network on Sustainable Urban Mobility, which helps cities to achieve a more sustainable, clean and energy efficient urban transport system by implementing and evaluating an ambitious, integrated set of technology and policy based measures.

Covenant of Mayors www.eumayors.eu/ The Covenant of Mayors is a commitment by signatory towns and cities to meet the objectives of EU energy policy in terms of reduction in CO2 emissions through enhanced energy efficiency and cleaner energy production and use. Cllr Rodney Berman signed the Covenant on behalf of Cardiff in April 2010

European Cities of Sport (ACES) http://www.aces-europa.eu/ The objective of the ACES network is to promote the social function that sport has as a linking factor between the physical wellbeing of individuals, the general improvement in their quality of life and the harmonious integration of society. Through being awarded European City of Sport status Cardiff automatically became a member of ACES, through which it shares best practice with other European cities committed to sport.

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Supporting Cardiff: An International City

Carbon Lite City Climate change is one of the greatest In support of this Cardiff Council is leading threats to environmental, social and the Climate Change workgroup within the economic stability facing the world Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities. Working today. Cardiff Council has recognised closely with our twin city, Nantes, which that Cardiff will not be sheltered from provides the secretariat for the Sustainable this danger, and with partners has Urban Development Commission, and developed the Carbon Lite Action Plan, other partner cities, we are in the process signed in April 2010, which lays out how of developing a multi-city project on the city will reduce its contribution to communication and behaviour change greenhouses gas emissions, and mitigate related to Climate Change. the risks of climate change. As a signatory city of the Covenant of The Council is also currently looking to Mayors – a European Commission facilitate the establishment of a ‘green’ initiative designed to address climate technology park to promote green change issues – Cardiff is tasked with business and technology and to promote implementing a locally developed the use of sustainable, renewable energy sustainable energy action plan which in the city region. hits the ambitious EU target of a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020.

Page 11 Media Capital Creative Industries, including activities Innovation). Cardiff is delivering this such as film, TV, new media, printing project in partnership with 7 other and publishing are becoming European cities, including our twin cities increasingly important in the Cardiff, Nantes and Stuttgart, along with Wales and UK economies and are Dublin, Eindhoven and Aachen, expected to expand significantly over Birmingham City University and the UK the next 5 to 10 years. Cardiff is well Creative Industries Development positioned to benefit from this growth, Agency (CIDA). being home to the second largest TV production sector outside London. This three year project aims to foster cooperation between the economic and The Media Capital Development in the cultural worlds. This will be achieved Cardiff Bay, including the establishment through supporting the development of of the BBC’s drama production village micro companies in the cultural and which will provide a home for creative sector by providing access to programmes such as Dr. Who, Pobl y business development, information and Cwm and Casualty, will serve as the advisory services. heart of a creative industries quarter for the city.

International partnerships are working to support Cardiff’s ambitions in this area. The Council is currently working alongside the University of Glamorgan’s Cardiff School of Creative and Cultural Industries based at ATRiuM on a project entitled: Economic Clusters of Cultural Enterprises (ECCE

Page 12 Competitive Capital

The industries of the past will not be taken to support the development of a Council has learnt from a series of enough to ensure that Cardiff is a knowledge economy. Over the coming 3 international exemplars, including the prosperous city in the future. Cardiff years this project will provide a valuable Hong Kong Science Park and Cyberport Council recognises that if we are to opportunity to study and support the Business Park, and the Xuyuan realise our vision of competing with the city’s emerging knowledge industries. Commercial Business Park in our twin most successful European cities it is city, Xiamen. This approach, of learning essential that we intensify current The presence of an International from international best practice, is one development towards a knowledge- Business Park would be a huge boost in which Cardiff pursues for all of its major based economy. attracting international companies to regeneration projects, perhaps most locate headquarters and R & D facilities successfully exemplified by the lessons Through participation in the Know- in the city thereby creating high-quality learnt from Baltimore Harbour and their Cities trans-national project Cardiff is knowledge jobs for the whole region. In application in the development of working with 17 other cities in the developing plans for an International Cardiff Bay. ‘Atlantic Arc’ on measures which can be Business Park for the city-region Cardiff

Page 13 European City of Sport

Over the past ten years sporting In support of the city’s history of occasions have drawn the eyes of the sporting excellence the Council is world onto Cardiff. The Rugby World developing the International Sports Cup of 1999, the FA Cup Final and Village. This £1.2 billion landmark project Heineken Cup Final and the Ashes Test has already seen the development Match have all attracted large number international swimming pool and an of visitors to the city and have provided olympic-standard canoeing and white a focus for global media coverage. In water centre, with a permanent ice-rink the coming years the Ryder Cup and the and snow box and a multi purpose arena 2012 Olympics will be continue to keep on the near horizon. Cardiff on the global sporting map. In recognition of this success Cardiff was selected as a European City of Sport for 2009, and will be applying for European Capital of Sport status. Through achievement of this accolade Cardiff has become a member of the European Capital of Sports Association (ACES).

Page 14 Sustainable Travel City

In the future successful cities will be sustainable cities. In March 2009 the Welsh Assembly Government announced that Cardiff would be Wales' first Sustainable Travel City and that a pathfinder scheme for a wider Sustainable Travel Town initiative is planned for Wales. Cardiff's two year STC programme (2009 to 2011) will improve the transport infrastructure and provide the facilities and options for increasing the use of public transport and walking and cycling. This is being accompanied by a programme of soft measures, or ‘Smarter Choices’, that provide information, incentives and encouragement to people to change their travel behaviour.

Involvement in CIVITAS, the Europe-wide city-network on urban mobility, provides the opportunity for Cardiff to share information and ideas with other cities tackling similar challenges. It also allows the Council to participate in multi-city consortia to develop European Union sponsored projects which deliver tangible benefits to the citizens of Cardiff.

Page 15 Open City

International migration trends present A book has also been produced as part of cities like Cardiff with new opportunities the OPENCities project in Cardiff. The and challenges. Whilst the economic publication, Cardiff - Developing an case for diversity is now well established, International and Open City , tells the the city must also be prepared for some history of migration in Cardiff, as well as of the challenges in integrating telling the stories of recent migrants to economic migrants into successful and Cardiff. An electronic version of the productive economic and social lives. publication can be accessed via www.cardiff.gov.uk/international Cardiff Council is working with 10 other EU cities on the British Council/URBACT Through participation in the supported OPENCities project on AAPublicService trans-national project economic migration in cities. The project Cardiff Council is also working with aims to provide an insight into the issues European Cities to develop multi-lingual migrants face when taking part in the e-services, particularly to develop e- city’s economy, and what the city can do services in community languages. This to ensure that migration has a positive project will run from 2009 to 2012, to impact on the lives of all city residents. support the delivery of services to Cardiff’s international populations and Cardiff’s ambition of being an open, international capital city.

Page 16 International Development

Cardiff Council is working with Vadodara Municipal Corporation in Gujarat, North- West India, on a Good Practice Scheme project funded by the Commonwealth Local Government Forum. The 3-year project will draw extensively on the practical experience gained by the Council during the redevelopment of Cardiff Bay, which senior Council officers are applying to river and waterfront management issues in Vadodara. Reciprocal visits by delegations from both cities have already taken place, and to date discussions have focused on understanding the economic, social and environmental challenges associated with the proposed Vishwamitri River Project in Vadodara.

Page 17 Commonwealth Local Government Conference 2011

Cardiff will host the 2011 Commonwealth Local Government Conference, taking place in City Hall from 15-18th March. This three-day international conference will attract delegates from over 50 commonwealth countries, including leading local government policy makers and practitioners, local government ministers, mayors and Council leaders, academics, and representatives from the private sector and civil society working with local government. The theme for the conference is ‘Energising Local Economies: Partnerships for Prosperous Communities ’ and reflects the growing responsibility local government now has to support and promote local economic development.

Page 18 Education

Cardiff’s future success as an international city will depend on its citizens sharing the city’s international outlook. Each February Cardiff Council, in conjunction with a number of partner organisations, hosts ‘Wales, Europe and the World’ for schoolchildren from the city and region in Cardiff City Hall. Focusing on children aged 14 – 19 years old, the aim of this event is to encourage children to study languages, to think about their role as European and global citizens and, perhaps most importantly, to broaden their thinking and their horizons. Currently eight Cardiff schools are linking with counterparts in China through the HSBC Global Education Trust ‘Schools Area Links’ programme. Individual schools have also developed their own links and projects, including: • Cantonian High and Westcliff Secondary School in Durban working together on ‘Dreams & Teams’ – a project which looks at developing young leaders. • Cardiff High is linking with both Schickhardt Realschule in Germany and Olympus College in The Netherlands on a project looking at inclusion & diversity in our schools. • Pentyrch Primary is linked with many schools but one is SUUTARILAN ALA ASTEEN KOULU in Finland on a project to develop the children’s creative and artistic skills, while learning about the cultures and traditions of the partner schools.

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Local Partners and Contacts

Cardiff and Co EU Commission Office in Wales Cardiff University / UWIC / University http://www.cardiffandco.com/ http://ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/abo of Glamorgan Cardiff and Co is the destination ut_us/office_in_wales/index_en.htm www.cardiff.ac.uk marketing vehicle for Cardiff which The European Commission Office is not www.uwic.ac.uk brings together local stakeholders to only the voice of the European www.glam.ac.uk market and promote the city to a Commission in Wales, but also its eyes All three of the city’s universities have national and international audience. and ears. Based on this, the EC Office in an International Development Division Wales has as its main responsibility the responsible for identifying, promoting Wales Consular Association representation of EC interests in Wales. and co-ordinating activities outside the http://www.consularassociationinwales. However, the EC Office does try to help, UK. This includes devising and org.uk/ facilitate and mediate in contacts implementing strategies to maximise The Wales Consular Association between Welsh authorities and the EU the international student population in provides an excellent channel of institutions, in order to foster closer ties. Cardiff and co-ordinating student communication to local international exchange programmes with institutions communities as well as assisting in CILT Cymru outside the UK. developing city-to-city links. http://www.ciltcymru.org.uk/ The National Centre for Languages is Welsh Assembly Government British Council the national centre of expertise on www.wales.gov.uk www.britishcouncil.org language teaching. Established in 2002 The External Relations division of the The British Council connects people as an integral part of the National Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) is with learning opportunities and creative Assembly's National Languages responsible for raising the international ideas from Wales to build lasting Strategy, Languages Count , CILT Cymru profile of Wales and increasing its relationships around the world. has a key role in delivering the influence on the global stage. programme that will make this strategy a reality.

Page 20 International Business Wales www.walestrade.com International Business Wales (IBW) is part of the Welsh Assembly Government that helps global companies take advantage of the real opportunities available by trading with or establishing operations in Wales.

Wales Centre for International Affairs www.wcia.org.uk/ The Welsh Centre for International Affairs – which has recently integrated with its schools arm, CEWC-Cymru, and its campaigning body, the United Nations Association Wales – is a national forum for the exchange of ideas on international issues. It seeks to promote world peace, human rights and international understanding, and to serve as a key point of contact in Wales for European institutions, the United Nations and the Commonwealth.

Welsh Local Government Association www.wlga.gov.uk The WLGA supports and promotes the role of Welsh local government in European Affairs. It has its own European office, located in Brussels. The European office provides on the spot contacts, keeping track of the EU legislative process from inception to completion, allowing local authority influence to be brought to Cardiff Council - International Team bear at key stages. Gareth Newell – Head of International Policy [email protected] Wales Arts International 029 2087 3723 www.wai.org.uk/ Wales Arts International's purpose is to Susan Jones – International Links Officer help build a dynamic international [email protected] context to the arts in Wales, working 029 2087 2453 with artists and cultural organisations Amanda John – Senior International Officer committed to contemporary practice, [email protected] intercultural dialogue and collaboration. 029 2087 2680

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