Warrnambool City Council’s economic development and investment manager Andrew Paton said progress on the food and agriculture initiatives was slower than agreements on education but a number of “business connections” had been made during the six-day trip to Changchun.

This month’s delegation included representatives from south-west dairy exporter Camperdown Dairy International, Don Lawson from Lawsons Angus at Yea near Seymour, Michelle Williams from Camperdown firm Total Livestock Genetics, south west farmers representative Michael Goldby and Tim James from business consultancy SED.

While a Midfield Meat Group representative was not in this month’s delegation, Mr Paton said the company had been introduced to relevant enterprises in Changchun and “discussions are occurring.”

The sister city relationship between Warrnambool and Changchun was formed in 2012 and was enhanced this year with the posting of trade coordinator Li Xichun to Warrnambool. 

Mr Li was part of the recent Warrnambool delegation to Changchun.

Mr Paton and Mr Li gave a summary of the progress of the sister city relationship to the Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics Sciences (ABARES) Regional Outlook Conference at Hamilton this week.

Mr Paton said there had been a need to get beyond talking about opportunities and deliver commercial outcomes.

However fostering cultural activities and understanding between the two countries was critical to the relationship’s success, he said.

The relationship had focused on the beef, dairy and other livestock industries and was building partnerships between the beef and dairy industries, Mr Paton said.

Other avenues pursued included importing manufactured products from Changchun that has automotive and train manufacturing industries, he said.

Mr Paton said it was important the relationship left a legacy of “a body knowledge” that the two cities could utilise.

Deakin University was part of this month’s delegation to Changchun and this week announced it would finalise agreements with four Changchun universities that will bring small numbers of Chinese students to Warrnambool to study.

Mr Paton said an agreement had also been reached to form a sister school relationship between Woodford Primary School and the Changchun First Experimental Primary School.

The sister school relationship follows on from a visit by eight Woodford students to China last year. The experience prompted the school’s desire for more exchanges and its principal Daniel Watson was part of this month’s delegation to Changchun.