[September 2023] The initiative of city development based on sister city exchanges

As I reported before, exchanges between local governments in Japan and Australia/New Zealand have been more active. Some local governments might be wondering about how to proceed their new exchanges, so I will introduce an exchange case for reference.

Since 2006, CLAIR has been implementing a project alongside the Japanese Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC). It aims to award Japanese local governments that are engaged in exemplary international exchange efforts that lead to further exchange of ideas between local governments and improved international exchange.

In 2023, three Japanese local governments won the Ministers Award. One of them was Osaka City which has a sister city relationship with City of Melbourne. Focusing on the main street as a hub for regional exchange, Osaka City has sister street agreements with City of Melbourne and City of Chicago, which are sister cities for the purpose of personal and technology exchange. Osaka City has developed initiatives in collaboration with citizens and private sectors. For example, private sectors redeveloped the town garden based on the knowledge of sister street agreement partner cities, and Osaka City promoted the international streets at the event on Midosuji, which was attended by many people.

Osaka City’s efforts focused on ‘main streets’ which are found in any city or town, and while interacting with both cities, conducted a thematic exchange project that focus on the street as a place and space where people interact. This includes the fact that meaningful cooperation is being achieved in urban planning, and that international exchange is linked to urban development philosophy and measures, such as a “people-centred story,” complete sidewalk construction, and spatial reorganisation. These aspects were highly praised.

I hope that this project by Osaka City will be of help for local governments in Australia and New Zealand.