Sister cities and international relations
The City of Fremantle's international relations program, also known as Sister Cities, is a diverse program of exchanges and events with five sister cities and three friendship cities.
The City of Fremantle's international relations program objectives are to promote:
- international friendship, peace and goodwill
- economic, cultural, educational, recreational and other beneficial exchanges
- interaction between Fremantle and its Sister Cities
- an awareness and appreciation of the traditions, customs and culture of Fremantle and its Sister Cities
- tourism in Fremantle
- student exchange programs to Sister Cities for students who reside or attend school within the municipality.
We currently have Sister City relationships with:
- Serabang Perai, Malaysia (1978) – to encourage trade and tourism
- Yokosuka, Japan (1979) – to encourage trade and tourism and facilitate and participate in youth exchange programs
- Funchal, Portugal (1996) – to encourage trade and tourism
- Capo d'Orlando, Italy (1983) – to encourage cultural and historical links and exchanges. To maintain family associations which now exist, and to encourage trade and tourism
- Molfetta, Italy (1984) – to encourage trade and tourism.
Exchanges with the above Sister Cities have included:
- mayoral delegations
- student and teacher exchanges
- council officer exchanges
- business and trade delegations.
The City also has three friendship agreements with Suribaya (1996) and Padang (1996), Indonesia, and Korcula, Croatia (1999). An alternative to the formal Sister City arrangement, friendship agreements share greetings and exchanges for a particular purpose and for a specified amount of time.
Programs for 2013
In 2013 the City of Fremantle again hosts two students from Yokosuka, Japan. The students are picked through an intensive selection process at the Yokosuka International Association. They will visit all of Fremantle’s famous tourist attractions and be attending John Curtin College of the Arts for eight days during their 2 weeks in Fremantle.
The City will also host a series of plaque unveiling ceremonies at the sites of where an honorary tree was planted in 2012. Dates for the future plaque unveiling ceremonies are:
- 8 February 2013, Molfetta Sister Cities Day on their Saint Day
- 15 February 2013, Yokosuka Sister Cities Day on their Enforcement of Municipal Council Day.
The City encourages anyone of decent from our sister cities to attend these events and to email events@fremantle.wa.gov.au for more information.