‘Our relationship is between cities, not government’: Darwin Mayor confident in Darwin’s relationship with Chinese sister city despite federal tensions
Darwin’s Lord Mayor says he remains confident about the strength of Darwin’s relationship with its sister city Haikou, despite recent tensions between the Australian and Chinese governments.
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DARWIN Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis says he remains confident about the strength of Darwin’s relationship with its sister city of Haikou, despite recent tensions between the Australian and Chinese governments.
Haikou, China is one of Darwin’s six sister cities with the others being in; Indonesia, the US, Timor Leste, Greece and Australia.
Representatives from Haikou are set to attend a Darwin Sister City virtual conference next June, and Mr Vatskalis said he was confident the conference and relationship in general would not be jeopardised.
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He said there has been recent consultation with Haikou that was very positive.
“They’re happy with what we’re doing and the way we’re doing things,” Mr Vatskalis said.
“No concerns were raised.
“Our relationship is between cities, not government.”
Mr Vatskalis said the relationship between Darwin and Haikou was very beneficial for the Top End.
“We have a very strong network between the university in Haikou and our university (Charles Darwin University),”
“We get a lot of benefits in terms of education and culture.”
It comes after Defence Minister Peter Dutton said the federal government could consider ending the Port of Darwin lease deal with China.
Speaking on ABC’s Insiders program yesterday, Mr Dutton said the 99-year lease for the Port of Darwin to a Chinese Owned company was one of “thousands” of agreements potentially being reviewed by Foreign Minister Marise Payne.
“I am not pre-empting or suggesting that she’s looking at it. I think it is a question for Marise to look at these individual cases. If it is not in our national interests then obviously she will act,” Mr Dutton said.
NT CLP Senator Sam McMahon has also raised concerns about an NT government deal with the Chinese city of Shenzhen, which is primarily related to education.
“It’s obviously a fairly controversial deal in the Northern Territory,” Ms McMahon told the NT News.
“I would like to know that the federal government is completely comfortable with that arrangement.”
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