Delegation heads to China

Albury Mayor, Patricia Gould, is leading a delegation to Nanping, China, that left on Saturday 11 July.

The week-long visit is in response to an invitation from Nanping's Foreign Affairs & Overseas Chinese Affairs Office, which says the delegation will "deepen the friendship between the people in our two cities and identify opportunities for economic development"

The letter of invitation also flags that Chinese representatives intend to discuss education, scientific research, environmental protection and ecology.

Cr Gould said the Albury delegation would be working to identify potential business opportunities between Nanping and Albury and to foster mutual understanding of culture, which will underpin future business dealings.

Cr Gould and the two school principals accompanying her on the visit are particularly excited about the potential to establish close educational ties with two Nanping schools. Both Holy Spirit Primary School and Xavier High School will explore opportunities for student and teacher exchanges, and sporting visits.

Holy Spirit Primary School Principal, Malcolm Scott, said he hoped children from the two cities would write to one another and develop friendships. Once they were in senior years at Xavier High School, he hoped local children might have the opportunity to meet the children they'd come to know from a distance.

"This trip is the beginning of wonderful experiences for the children of Albury and it's not before time. The more we know about the Chinese people, the better we can grow together," Mr Scott said.

Xavier High School Principal, Neville Powles, said links between schools would increase his students' understanding of Asia, languages and literature.

"We are hoping Jianjing High School representatives will visit Albury towards the end of next year," he said.

The delegation, which will also pave the way for educational opportunities to be explored between Charles Sturt University and Wuyi University, will flag opportunities for sporting visits, such as basketball and table tennis. It will also aim to strengthen cultural ties, by encouraging the exchange of exhibitions between art galleries and libraries.

The delegation, which will return on Monday 20 July, also includes Daryl McGregor, of DLM Environmental Consultants Pty Ltd, who facilitated agreements between the sister city schools.