2006 Moreland Delegation To Xianyang

The Delegation from Moreland arrived in Xianyang on October 30, 2006 and received a warm welcome from the City Administration.

Welcome at Qinbo Hotel The Delegation from Moreland is welcomed by the Mayor of Xianyang, Qian Junchang (centre front).

The Sister-city Relationship betwen Xianyang and Moreland (and formerly Brunswick) goes back to the early 1990s. Brunswick initiated and then formally entered into a Special Relationship with the City of Xianyang in 1995. After the formation of Moreland out of Brunswick and Coburg, and a democratically elected Council in 2000, the relationship with Xianyang was endorsed by Moreland City Council.

Since then China has emerged as a developing economic powerhouse. As a result, interest has grown amongst Australian businesses of all sizes in establishing links with China to explore potential economic opportunities. Active local government relationships offer a unique entre to meet potential partners in the other country.

In the early stages, the relationship between the two ciites was promoted by cultural and artistic exchanges. Similarly, in this case, the Moreland Delegation was preceeded by a field trip of public art students from RMIT University to carry out public art projects around Xianyang .

However the motivation of this Delegation from Moreland was to explore the potential for a broader basis for co-operation in the areas of education and business.

MORELAND DELEGATION MEMBERS

Although most of the Moreland Delegation didn't know each other before going to China, it soon coalesced into a tight-knit group. New friendships were established and much fun was had during the five days together.
A short introduction to each of the delegation members and their interests is given on a separate web page.

DAY 1

After settling into our hotel rooms the Itinerary was:

Maoling Museum
formal reception by the Mayor and City Administration
Welcoming Banquet in the evening

DAY 2

Xianyang Museum
North-west No. 2 Cotton Group, meeting with Management, tour of production facilities
visit Art Department, Xianyang Normal University to meet staff and student musicians and members of the Xianyang Musicians Association. Performance by Xianyang musicians.
visit new Chinese antique market and reconstruction of fortress
dinner given by Zhang Liyong, Secretary of the Xianyang CPC

DAY 3

Museum of the Terra-cotta Warriors and Horses of Emperor Qin Shihuang
lunch: Chinese Jiaozi Banquet, XiÕan
Great Mosque
Xi'an City Wall
Tang Dynasty Song and Dance Performance

DAY 4

Qianling Mausoleum
Lunch with Qianling District Administration
Shaanxi Textile College
dinner given by Xun Xinrong, President of Xianyang PeopleÕs Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries

DAY 5

visit middle school attached to Shaanxi University of Science and Technology
Various delegation members go to different destininations:
revisit Shaanxi Textile College
meeting with Xianyang lawyers
Shaanxi Fashion and Costume College