By Cam Lucadou-Wells
Within days, Casey councillors Sam Aziz and Wayne Smith are set to fly back to China to sign a landmark economic partnership agreement with Dujiangyan City.
As part of the mission on 5-14 April, they will revisit the Chengdu and Sichuan provinces visited by the councillors as part of a Casey delegation a year beforehand.
The trip was endorsed by Casey councillors at a meeting on 20 March.
During the Dujiangyan visit, Crs Aziz and Smith are authorised to finalise negotiations ahead of the expected signing of the agreement.
According to a letter-of-intent signed with Dujiangyan last year, the agreement was based on “mutual equality and benefit” across “a number of sectors and industries”.
The agreement is expected to be witnessed by Planning Minister Richard Wynne and a State Government trade mission, councillor Damien Rosario told the council meeting.
The travelling councillors have also been authorised to enter discussions with Mianyang City in Sichuan province for a future partnership.
Cr Rosario said Casey were seeking partnerships with the many Chinese cities that would want to work with them.
The trip was a continuation of Casey’s “China policy” and investment in building relationships and communication with China, he said.
Then-acting chief executive Sheena Frost said the mission was covered in the council’s 2017-18 budget. It would be the only China trip for the 2017-18 financial year, she said.
Councillor Rosalie Crestani supported the trip but “no future ones for the year”.
Councillor Rex Flannery was the sole dissenter.
“Everyone knows my stand on overseas travel.”
Last year’s mission to China led to talks with a Chinese company about staging a large-scale lights and lantern festival in Casey.
The council is expected to be visited by festival proponent Sichuan Lantern Company to explore possible sites.
