Regional Development Minister Don Punch comments on Linyi-Albany sister city break-up in wake of trade mission

WA’s minister for regional development has weighed in on the City of Albany’s decision to “break up” with its Chinese sister city of Linyi, noting that strong relationships were integral to trade. Don Punch, who met with a Chinese wine trade delegation to the Great Southern on Monday, said sister city connections can “make a world of difference” in trade relationships. “That’s a decision of the Albany City council,” he said. “What I do know is that the best relationships that we have for trade and for tourism come out of strong relationships at a community level. “So these sort of relationships do play a valuable role in helping to make inbound delegations feel welcome, but also to build relationships and joint level of understanding between countries and between localities, and that can make the world of difference. “I know that certainly in the trade delegations that I’ve been involved with have also included sister city relationships. “People really value relationships when they’re engaging in trade, and it’s far easier if you’re friends with people, if you know people, and that’s the way we do business here in Western Australia, and it’s exactly the same when we’re going overseas.” City councillors voted 10-1 to end Albany’s sister city relationship with Linyi at their September 24 meeting after a 14-month review of its civic affiliations policy. In a four-minute speech, which he described as “satire”, Cr Thomas Brough — who first raised the issue in 2023 — said the Chinese Communist Party was a “hostile, oppressive and authoritarian regime” and it was time to “take the trash out”, encouraging his fellow councillors to “send Linyi a break-up letter even chairman Xi can’t misinterpret — ‘We’re just not that into you’.”