Hilltops Council was lining up for its second visit to Chinese city Lanzhou with a brief report in Wednesday night’s Council meeting held at Boorowa.
Council allocated $10,000 for the 2019 trip which consisted of a Hilltops delegations including Mayor Brian Ingram and Council’s Mandarin speaking tourism officer.
The Recommendation stated That Council: (c) Acknowledge the invitation of Councils Sister City Lanzhou to attend the 2020 Trade Fair; (d) Endorse the attendance of the Mayor and one (1) Councillor with expenditure of $10,000 allocated for flights, accommodation, meals and transfers, as per Councils Sister City Policy; and (e) Endorse the delegation to consist of Council’s mandarin speaking Tourism Officer to support engagement and liaison as part of the official party.
According to the Council report “Council has again been invited to our Sister City Lanzhou for their annual trade fair in July 2020. This invitation has been extended following the success of the 2019 Lanzhou Trade Fair and in view of strengthening the Sister City relationship between Hilltops Council and the City of Lanzhou Provence.”
Mayor Brian Ingram stated that he had no involvement in this month’s business paper and Councillors agreed not to vote on the matter at the meeting.
It was claimed that an informal invitation had been received via Facebook but Council was yet to receive a formal invitation from its Chinese sister city.
Lanzhou has historically been a major link on the Northern Silk Road and is a centre for heavy industry and petrochemical industry. Aspects of its economy that Hilltops does not share with it. According to 2010 data it is home to 3,616,163 inhabitants compared to Hilltops which is under 19,000.
