Attachment A
Report on International Travel – Guangzhou
International Award for Innovation for
Green Square
2
Report On International Travel – Guangzhou International
Award For Urban Innovation For Green Square
Travel Report: Councillor Jess Scully
1. Executive Summary
At its meeting on Monday 19 November 2018, Council endorsed that Councillor Jess Scully
attend and speak on behalf of the Lord Mayor at the Guangzhou International Award for
Urban Innovation from 5 to 8 December 2018.
I left Sydney after the Committee Meeting on Monday 3 December 2018, arriving in
Guangzhou on the morning of Tuesday 4 December 2018. That afternoon I experienced
Guangzhou’s public transport network and visited its cultural precincts, including the Lychee
Bay Area and the Guangzhou Opera House. I also met with the Australian Deputy Consul
General in Guangzhou.
On Wednesday 5 December 2018, I had a half
day trip to Shenzhen where Ms Liu Jiachen, the
Deputy Secretary General of Shenzhen
Municipal Government, briefed me about
Shenzhen’s creative industries. Later I visited
the Shenzhen Garment Industry Association and
Madam Shen Yongfang, the President of the
Association, briefed me about Shenzhen’s
fashion industry and Shenzhen Fashion Week.
We discussed their interest in Sydney Fashion
Week, and agreed to explore how to achieve this
major textile and fashion manufacturing hub
having a presence there. My final meeting was
with HAX, a hardware startups incubator, which
hosts a number of Australian and Sydney based
hardware startups. I informed them about the
City’s successful Visiting Entrepreneur Program,
and committed to connecting them with relevant
City staff who could help build new opportunities
for local tech businesses.
The Guangzhou International Award for Urban
Innovation was held from Thursday 6 December
to Saturday 8 December 2018. It received 313
submissions from 213 cities and 70
countries/regions from which 15 cities were
shortlisted. In addition to Sydney, the shortlist included New York (United States), Milan
(Italy), Salvador (Brazil), and Repentigny (Canada).
On Thursday 6 December 2018, the City of Sydney was the first city to present our Green
Square Project at the presentation session. Two staff members, Ms Lila Contziu, Manager,
Green Square Place Making, and Ms Tamara Bruckshaw, Manager, Major Projects
Planning, delivered the City’s presentation and answered audience questions. In the
afternoon, we listened to other cities’ presentations. Afterwards, I took part in a media call
with 10 local media organisations, who together had an audience reach of 10 million people,
CLR SCULLY WITH MS LIU JIACHEN, THE DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL OF SHENZHEN MUNICIPAL
PEOPLE'S GOVERNMENT
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to further promote Sydney as a Green, Global and Connected city. The day finished with a
Pearl River night cruise which showcased the lighting and scenic river views.
My speech at the Global Mayors’ Forum on
Friday 7 December 2018, had the theme
“From Words to Actions: Green City
Development and Cooperation”, and was
followed by a Discussion Panel with other
mayors and policy makers.
Mr Chen Zhiying, the Executive Vice-Mayor
of Guangzhou, hosted the Sydney delegation
for a Courtesy Call and praised the Sister
City relationship with Sydney, noting how it
has benefited people from both cities.
My final activity in Guangzhou on Saturday 8
December 2018 was a tour to the Guangzhou
Urban Planning Exhibition Centre where I
learned about the City’s development history,
and had a site visit to the Flower City Plaza in
its town centre.
The cost for the three days travel averaged
approximately $525 per person.
CLR SCULLY WITH FORMER MAYOR OF GUANGZHOU, MR CHEN JIANHUA
4
2. Guangzhou
Sydney and Guangzhou’s Sister City
Relationship was established in 1986 and
remains active and well supported by a wide
range of businesses and communities.
In 2016, the Lord Mayor led the largest
delegation in Sydney’s history to Guangzhou,
with more than 100 representatives from local
businesses and communities, to celebrate the
30th Anniversary of our Sister City
Relationship.
2.1 Site Visits
It was my first visit to Guangzhou and I was impressed by its convenient public transport and
its well-preserved historic cultural precincts. It showed its modern face with a series of iconic
buildings on the bank of the Pearl River in the new town centre – Zhu Jiang New Town.
The Lychee Bay Precinct in Guangzhou’s
oldest district, Li Wan District, combines
residential areas with historic relics and
architecture. The Precinct has retained many
original features – shops and homes on both
sides of Lychee Creek connected by
pedestrian-only stone bridges and, at the
same time, community facilities have been
created which include fitness facilities,
Cantonese Opera performing stages, a
library, and an exhibition centre. It is the most
renowned tourist attraction, and also the local
community’s favourite activity centre.
The Guangzhou Opera House, located in Zhu
Jiang New Town, is the new icon designed by
world-renowned architect Zaha Hadid. It is
the largest opera house in South China,
serving Guangzhou city’s 13 million people as
well as the whole of Guangdong province,
with a population of approximately 110
million people.
The General Manager of Guangzhou Opera House, Mr He Ying, showed me the Concert
Hall, the Opera Hall, and the Multi-function Theatre. As the busiest performing centre in
GUANGZHOU OPERA HOUSE AND THE CANTO TOWER
CLR SCULLY WITH MR HE YING, GENERAL MANAGER, AND MS LI XING, EXTERNAL RELATIONS, GUANGZHOU OPERA
HOUSE
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South China, it has performances from all over the
world. He also briefly outlined their renovation plan
which will upgrade superseded facilities and
technologies even though it was only built in 2009.
The visit to the Guangzhou Urban Planning
Exhibition Centre was an opportunity to understand
Guangzhou’s urban design concept and future
town planning. Its masterplan Guangzhou Urban
Planning Overview (2017 – 2035), will demonstrate
how to accommodate its growing population.
Our last stop, the Flower City Square, is the city’s
largest square and is referred as Guangzhou’s
“Living Room”. It is a popular venue for local
residents and tourists with its trees and public art
works, especially in mid-summer.
2.2 The Global Mayors’ Forum and the Guangzhou Award for Urban Innovation
The theme of the Global Mayors’
Forum and its 2018 Guangzhou
International Urban Innovation
conference was “Global Openness
and Inclusive Innovation”.
On behalf of the Lord Mayor and
the City, I delivered a 10-minute
keynote speech in the parallel
session entitled “From Words to
Actions: Green City Development
and Cooperation”. I provided
information about the City: its area,
population, economy, our cultural
diversity, the focus on Sustainable
Sydney 2030 and our international engagement in the 100 Resilient Cities program. I also
highlighted the Green Square Redevelopment Project and how it is implementing our vision
to develop Sydney as a Green, Global, and Connected city.
GUANGZHOU CITY MODEL IN THE GUANGZHOU URBAN PLANNING EXHIBITION CENTRE
CLR SCULLY IN KEYNOTE SPEAKING IN THE GLOBAL MAYORS’ FORUM
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I also participated in a
high-level discussion
panel with leaders from
international cities and
organisations. It was
good to learn about how
other cities are dealing
with common urban
issues. Mr Jung Jong
Tee, the Deputy Mayor of
Kwangju, Korea, and Mr
Arturo Lorenzoni, the
Deputy Mayor of Padua,
Italy made detailed
presentations about their
cities. Mr Nicholas You,
the Honorary Chairman of World Urban Campaign, articulated the importance of building the
global ecological partnership, driven by technology innovation. Mr Lin Guangming, the
Executive Director of NUS Urban Development Consulting Centre, Singapore, and Ms Lee
Hong Wei, the Director and Professor of Ecological Civilization Research Office, Party
School of the CPC Central Committee, spoke about the importance of creating and building
community for our shared future and collaboration between all our cities and local
governments to address the issues we are facing.
I also took part in a Summit Dialogue facilitated by Mr Lin Guangming, with Ms Kirstin Miller,
CEO of Ecocity Builders; Mr Zhang Yisheng, Vice Mayor of Zhuhai, China; and Mr Lin Guan,
Mayor of Hezhou, China.
The presentation by our staff,
Ms Lila Contziu, Manager,
Green Square Place Making,
and Ms Tamara Bruckshaw,
Manager, Major Projects
Planning, on the Green
Square Redevelopment
Project entitled “Green
Square: From a Rich Industrial
Past to a Vibrant, Sustainable
and Connected Community”
was professional and detailed.
In the later Q & A session,
they answered audience
questions about government
management and the City’s
public consultation processes.
CLR SCULLY IN SUMMIT DIALOGUE WITH INTERNATIONAL MAYORS
MS LILA CONTZIU AND MS TAMARA BRUCKSHAW PRESENTING GREEN SQUARE PRESENTATION IN GUANGZHOU INTERNATIONAL AWARD FOR URBAN INNOVATION
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The jury acknowledged the Green Square
Redevelopment Project was “Australia’s largest
urban renewal project to date, to be supported by
participating public and non-public stakeholders
and aims to be the most liveable, resilient, lively,
walkable, accessible, sustainable and unique
area of the city for the benefit of its estimated
61,000 residents.”
The Technical Committee Report states, “The
Technical Committee were impressed by the
holistic approach to innovation, scale and
transferability to the project and notes that the
successful implementation of the project will
deliver outcomes consistent with the SDG 3:
Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for
all ages; SDG 4: Ensure inclusive and equitable
education and promote life-long learning
opportunities for all; SDG 6: Ensure availability
and sustainable management of water and
sanitation for all; and SDG 11: Make cities and
human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and
sustainable.”
2.3 Courtesy Call with the Guangzhou Government
Executive Vice Mayor of Guangzhou, Mr Chen Zhiying, hosted a Courtesy Call with our
delegation and extended a warm welcome from Guangzhou to its Sister City. Mr Chen had
met with the Lord Mayor during her visit to Guangzhou in 2016 for the 30th Anniversary of
our Sister City Relationship.
Mr Chen updated me about Guangzhou’s new town planning masterplan and how they had
learned from Sustainable Sydney 2030. He particularly mentioned that the Green Square
project had inspired Guangzhou’s Zhu Jiang New Town and its planning, acknowledging the
participation of Mr Andrew Thomas, the City’s
Executive Manager of Strategic Planning and
Urban Design in the 2018 international
consultation.
Mr Chen Jie, Director of the Guangzhou
Commerce Commission, Ms Zhang Rong,
Deputy Director of the Guangzhou Land
Resource and Urban Planning Department,
and Ms Huang Suiwen, Deputy Director
General of Guangzhou Foreign Affairs Office
also attended the meeting.
GREEN SQUARE INFORMATION BOARD IN THE EXHIBITION AREA
SYDNEY DELEGATION WITH VICE MAYOR CHEN AND HIS COLLEAGUES FROM GUANGZHOU GOVERNMENT
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2.4 Meeting at the Australian Consulate General in Guangzhou
In my meeting with the Deputy Consul General, Ms Fiona Cochaud, I thanked her and the
Consul General for their support during our 30th Anniversary celebrations.
It was a short meeting, but we discussed the City’s relationship with Guangdong Province,
which has a Sister State Relationship with New South Wales.
2.5 Media Coverage
This visit received outstanding media coverage in Guangzhou:
Guangzhou TV:
http://zzgs.ucbyun.gztv.com//web/newsDetail?id=95816&share=1&from=singlemessage
&isappinstalled=0
Wemedia: http://wemedia.ifeng.com/91974796/wemedia.shtml
The Southern Metropolis Daily:
http://toutiao.3g.oeeee.com/mp/toutiao/BAAFRD000020181206121897.html
Dayoo News, Guangzhou Daily:
http://news.dayoo.com/guangzhou/201812/08/139995_52398213.htm
Snow News:
https://www.xuehua.us/2018/12/07/%E4%B8%96%E7%95%8C%E5%B0%8F%E5%95
%86%E5%93%81%E4%B9%8B%E9%83%BD%E4%B9%89%E4%B9%8C%E4%BB%8
0%E4%B9%88%E7%89%B9%E8%89%B2%EF%BC%9F%E5%B9%BF%E5%B7%9E%
E5%A5%96%E7%AD%94%E8%BE%A9/zh-tw/
China News: http://www.chinanews.com/sh/2018/12-06/8694653.shtml
China Daily: http://gd.chinadaily.com.cn/2018-12/08/content_37373410.htm
People’s Daily: http://gd.rmsznet.com/video/d64633.html
CLR SCULLY IN MEDIA CALL WITH GUANGZHOU LOCAL MEDIA
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Tencent News: https://wxn.qq.com/cmsid/20181209A0LFFV00
China Economy:
http://www.ce.cn/xwzx/gnsz/gdxw/201812/09/t20181209_30986867.shtml
Sina News: https://k.sina.com.cn/article_1663612603_6328b6bb02000eoqh.html
Hong Kong Commerce Daily: http://www.hkcd.com/content/2018-
12/09/content_1113452.html
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3. SHENZHEN
Shenzhen is one of China’s four first-tier cities and has been the pioneer of China’s “Reform
and Opening up” policy since 1979. It is also a “Special Economic Zone” directly managed
by the Central Government. The city features contemporary buildings and a number of
amusement parks.
My half-day visit was very productive. I arrived in the morning of 5 December 2018 for the
meeting with Liu Jiachen, the Deputy Secretary General of the Shenzhen Government.
Ms Liu gave me an overview of Shenzhen city and introduced its creative industries and
high-tech startups. She advised that since the Lord Mayor met with former Mayor of
Shenzhen, Mr Xu Qin in 2014, Shenzhen has made
significant achievements towards its sustainable
development goals and that Mayor Xu always mentioned
Sustainable Sydney 2030 in his government briefs.
Mr Pan Weiqi, Director of Science, Technology and
Innovation, Commission of Shenzhen Government, Mr
Xiong Dechang, Director of Culture, Sports, and Tourism
Administration of Shenzhen Government, and Mr Wang
Zhongmin, Director of Foreign Affairs Office of Shenzhen
Government, also attended the meeting.
In my meeting with Madam Shen Yongfang, President of
the Shenzhen Garment Association, I learned about
Shenzhen’s garment industries and the annual Shenzhen
Fashion Week. Since 2016, Shenzhen garment industries
annual sales have reached 200 billion RMB (approx. $41
billion Australian dollars) and is now shifting its focus
from garment making to creative design.
My final stop was HAX, a hardware startup incubator in
the high-tech and electronic zone, Hua Qiang Bei. HAX
was founded in 2011 and is now the world’s largest
hardware accelerator. The program selects startups for
investment and offers on-site support and mentoring in
exchange for short-term equity.
HAX was the first accelerator in the world to focus on
hardware startups, leveraging its unique access to
Shenzhen's ecosystem. As at June 2017, about 90% of
its startup investments were from overseas, with a
number of Australian and Sydney-based startups that
have achieved global success.
We discussed future opportunities to build capacity and
connections with the Sydney startup and research
ecosystem.
CLR SCULLY WITH MDM SHEN YONGFANG IN SHENZHEN GARMENT ASSOCIATION
HUA QIANG BEI ELECTRONIC WORLD, THE INNOVATION HUB OF SHENHEN AND CHINA