【This year’s CLAIR forum ended successfully. Thank you very much for your participation and we hope to see you next year.】
The year 2013 marks 50 years since the signing of the sister city relationship between Yamatotakada in Nara prefecture and Lismore in NSW. Established in 1963, this is the very first sister city link between Japan and Australia.
Today, there are 108 sister city and state relationships between Japan and Australia. These sister cities and states are actively engaged in cultural exchange activities.
At this year’s CLAIR Forum, we will be looking at the history of sister cities so far, as well as exchanging ideas on the development of sister cities in the future.
2013 has also been designated as ‘The Year of Australia –Japan Partner for Tourism Exchange’. We will be working to publicise tourism for Japanese local governments together with JNTO Sydney with the hope of deepening the exchange of both countries and bringing more visitors from both sides.
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Details of the 2013 CLAIR Forum
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Date: Monday 5 August, 2013
Time: 13:30 – 18:30
Venue: The Westin Sydney Heritage Ballroom
(1 Martin Place, Sydney, NSW 2000)
Host: Japan Local Government Centre (CLAIR Sydney),
Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO Sydney)
Sponsors: Consulate-General of Japan, Sydney; University of Technology, Sydney;
The Centre of Excellence for Local Government; Sister CitiesAustralia
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【Program】
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13:00 Reception
13:30 Opening
Presentment of Certificate of Appreciation to
Father Paul Glynn, Marist Fathers Australia
Opening address by Ms. Yoko Kimura, CLAIR’s Chairperson
of the Board of Directors
Congratulatory Greeting by the Hon. Andrew Stoner,
MP, Deputy Premier of New South Wales
Congratulatory Greeting by Dr. Masahiro Kohara,
Consul-General of Japan in Sydney
14:00 Looking back 50 years in the development of Sister Cities
From Japan: Mr. Masakatsu Yoshida, Mayor of Yamatotakada
From Australia: Ms. Jenny Dowell, Mayor of Lismore
Address by Ald. William Wilson, President of Sister CitiesAustralia
Address by Mr. Yasuhiko Tanabe, Director of CLAIR Sydney
15:00 Afternoon tea
15:30 About further development of Japan-Australia Sister Cities
Facilitator: Ms. Roberta Ryan, Director of the Centre of Excellence for
Local Government (ACELG) at UTS
Clr. Robert Kok, City of Sydney
Clr. Alan Le Surf, Deputy Mayor, Manly Council
Ms. Chris Hughes, International Relations Coordinator, City of Perth
Opinions from the audiences and conclusion by the Facilitator
16:30 The Year of Australia-Japan Partner for Tourism Exchange
and publicizing tourism in Japan
17:00 Network Drinks & Tourism display
18:30 Close