The City of Bunbury is proud to be part of a globally connected community. Our international relationships help foster meaningful friendships, cultural exchange and opportunities that benefit our region. These partnerships allow us to learn from others and collaborate across areas such as education, culture, trade, tourism and sport.
Bunbury currently maintains a Sister City relationship with Setagaya, Japan, as well as Friendship City relationships with Jiaxing, China, and Nha Trang, Vietnam. Each partnership brings unique stories, experiences and opportunities for our community to connect with the wider world.
Sister and Friendship City Relationships
What’s the difference?
- Sister City: A formal, long‑term partnership focused on cultural exchange and other meaningful collaborations.
- Friendship City: A less formal relationship that may be short or long-term, often focused on shared goals such as tourism or business development.
Our City Partnerships
Setagaya
The City of Setagaya is located within the Tokyo metropolitan region and is one of the 23 large urban wards that make up Tokyo. With a population of 837,000, Setagaya is predominantly a residential area steeped in cultural tradition with large areas set aside for parklands and public recreation.
Indeed, Setagaya is said to have the best natural environment in Tokyo with 23% of city land devoted to this purpose. The city Is also recognised as one of Japan’s leading business and cultural centres, with wholesaling, retailing and restaurants making up half of the businesses in an area rich with cultural and sporting facilities such as the Setagaya Art Museum and Komazawa Olympic Park.
To learn more about Setagaya, you can explore the official website, as well as our Sister City Celebration book. The City of Setagaya also coordinates an annual reciprocal student exchange program. To find out more about the Setagaya Goodwill Tour, simply use the links below.
Jiaxing
Jiaxing is a prefecture-level city located in the north-east of the northern Chinese province of Zhejiang. The city lies on the Grand Canal of China, the longest canal in the world, and sits in the delta of the Yangtze River, the third longest river in the world. Shanghai is less than 100km away. With a population of 3.4 million people, Jiaxing is a major industry centre. It is a famous producer of textiles and woollens, one of the world’s largest leather exporters and a major energy base.
The Bunbury Port Authority also signed an agreement with the Zhapu Port to enter a Sister Port Relationship based on economic development and trade between the two cities and ports.
Nha Trang
Late in 2015 Bunbury City Council signed an agreement with Nha Trang in Vietnam. This friendship is founded based on education, culture, trade, tourism and sport exchange, and holds the potential for exciting new collaborations and a multitude of benefits for Bunbury.
Nha Trang is a coastal city with a beautiful sweeping bay fringed by low mountains on the South-Central Coast of Vietnam. The capital of Khanh Hoa Province, Nha Trang has become the centre of tourism in the region, thanks to its stunning coastline, collection of islands located close to shore, and its coral reefs.
Sister Cities Advisory Group
Our Sister Cities Advisory Group plays a vital role behind the scenes, helping to strengthen the relationships, programs and cultural exchanges we share with our Sister & Friendship Cities.
Want to get involved? Join the group and help shape exciting international connections for our community.
