Council signs Friendship City Agreement with China’s Huizhou City
Published on 27 November 2018
Rockhampton Regional Council has forged a ‘Friendship City’ with Huizhou in China, following a successful council-led trade mission to the city last year.
Nine delegates from Huizhou including Mr Zhou Wengao, Deputy Secretary General of Huizhou Municipal People’s Government arrived in Rockhampton yesterday to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and begin their two day tour of the Region.
Huizhou is now Council’s second official city-to-city relationship with China after recently signing a Sister City Agreement with Zhenjiang in September.
Rockhampton Region Mayor Margaret Strelow said the Agreement with Huizhou is another step toward expanding Rockhampton’s relationship with China as a business and trading partner.
“I am absolutely delighted to welcome delegates from Huizhou to Rockhampton this week following their request to become a Friendship City which, in due course, will become another Sister City for Rockhampton,” Mayor Strelow said.
“Last year, Huizhou hosted one of the largest agricultural expos where Council and seven local businesses were invited to participate in promoting the Region’s agriculture opportunities. During the trade mission, our Advance Rockhampton team visited the Ma’An Agricultural Demonstration Park Development Plans site, which is estimated to be the largest project in the Pearl River Region, covering the entire south China metropolitan area.
“The project has three main objectives when it comes to Australia, and particularly our Region - they are looking to work with our Region for salt water aquaculture development, smart greenhouse technology and research and development with a local institution.
“We have held discussions on partnership prospects for local businesses in relation to this project and Council looks forward to progressing these conversations during their visit and expanding the economic opportunities into the future.”
Huizhou is home to 4.5 million people in the Guangdong Province and is considered a third tier city by Chinese standards. Guangdong Province is the most affluent region in China with the population of 105 million. There is a strong focus on the development of the petro-chemical, industrial chemical, heavy industry and nuclear energy industries.
The city also manufactures 70 per cent of Apple’s touch screen and electronic control systems as well as 12.5 per cent of world mobile phones. 40 per cent of fresh food leaving China for Hong Kong goes via the Huizhou Port which is approximately 85kms away and a 1.5 hour drive.