Between 23-25 August, Vice-Governor of Aichi Prefecture Mr Senta Morioka, Vice-Chairman of the Prefecture Mr Takanari Sugiura and their delegation visited Victoria for the 35th anniversary of the Aichi-Vitoria sister-state relationship.
The visitors first made a courtesy call to Her Excellency the Honourable Linda Dessau AM, Governor of Victoria and the Hon. Daniel Andrews MP, Victorian Premier. Then the Victorian Government held the Engaging Japan Forum as a memorable project for the celebration, in which two workshops were held.
One was about the value of sister-city relationships, for which our Director Mr Katsunori Kamibo gave a presentation. Another one was about harnessing trade and investment opportunities between Australia and Japan. The Engaging Japan Forum was a success and allowed many representatives of local governments from all around Victoria to discuss about the challenges and rewards of sister-city relationships. In addition, a similar forum, called Japan-Victoria Business Forum was held by a Japanese semi-government body the following day.
At the “Friends of Aichi” reception held by Aichi on 25 August, two sister-university agreements were signed: one between Deakin University and Aichi Prefectural University, and another between Swinburne University of Technology and Aichi Prefectural University. The relationship between Victoria and Aichi was strengthened at the event, and both parties felt that their relationship was more of a familial one than a simple friendship, and hoped for continuous exchange and communication.
“Family rather than friend, whatever happen!”
Tow Sister- University agreements signed