Using Sister City relationships to access the Chinese market

Abstract

Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to offer a new approach for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Australia to engage in sustainable trade with China through the use of Sister City relationships. The reason for writing this paper is to address this research gap with the aim of influencing government policy at the national and the local level. Design/methodology/approach-The main methods used is a historical literature review, a critical review of the effectiveness of the Sister City relationships and an examination of a special Sister City relationship between Latrobe City in Australia and the Chinese city of Taizhou. Findings-Throughout the course of the paper it was established that Sister City relationships had been insufficiently utilized as commercial facilitators and especially SMEs in regional Australia. This was especially evident in terms of trade relations with China. Research limitations/implications-This conceptual paper will require further research at different levels. Future research should establish what Australian sister cities with China are actually doing and how a more focused relationship utilizing SMEs in their territory might be utilized. This is clearly a limitation with this conceptual paper, which it is hoped will be overcome with new research planned by the authors. Practical implications-The practical implications emerging from this paper is that Sister City relationships can be refocused from their current role to becoming structurally integrated into trade facilitators for SMEs in pursuing trade with China. Most Sister City relationships do not have a trade focus in the first instance. As a result of this paper we are hoping that local government policy makers and state government trade facilitators will see Sister City relationships in a new light. Originality/value-This paper brings to attention cases of Sister City relationships which have gravitated towards a trade focus (an exception like Latrobe City) in which results are already evident. A paper of this kind is directed at governments at all levels as well as SMEs who wish to work better with government.

Extending the cultural-economic model of public relations through Bourdieu’s theoretical lens to inform public diplomacy efforts

“…Eisenhower and the early pioneers of the Sister City Program believed that if the citizens of countries could build mutually respectful relationships, it could transform diplomatic relations between those countries (Sister Cities International, 2006). When the program was first devised, relationships focused mainly on culture and education (Mascitelli and Chung, 2008).…”

A dimensão da paradiplomacia entre regiões nas relações UE-China

“…A relevância das redes de regiões e cidades-irmãs é maior do que geralmente se acredita no quadro do desenvolvimento das relações económicas e políticas entre a UE e a China. Diferentes estudos encontraram uma correlação positiva entre relações de paradiplomacia/cidade-irmã e vários fluxos: de turismo 15 , de comércio 16 , de investimento estrangeiro direto e migratórios, bem como intercâmbios culturais e educativos. Acrescenta-se desta forma uma nova dimensão ao enfoque tradicional no comércio e no investimento diretos na China, por sua vez ligados ao avultado investimento direto chinês nos países da ue, que aumentou para níveis sem precedentes desde a crise financeira e a subsequente crise da dívida soberana da ue, em particular desde 2011.…”

The role of Australian local government in economic development: Building international engagement capacity

“…SCRs are a platform of international relationships between LGs based on formal agreement. SCRs have developed from an initial programme of cultural and social exchange to increasingly comprise the goal of generating economic benefits for local communities and businesses, especially small‐ and medium‐sized enterprises (SMEs) (Mascitelli & Chung, 2008; O'Toole, 2000). This shift illustrates the increased involvement of many LGs in local economic development (LED) initiatives, including those aiming to further internationalise local economies and those targeting SMEs.…”

“…Barriers to internationalisation are, however, often pronounced for SMEs compared with their larger counterparts (Sternad et al, 2013). This often includes insufficient resources, international market intelligence, cultural and institutional understanding, and international contacts, including trust‐based relationships that are critical to secure business opportunities (Mascitelli & Chung, 2008; OECD, 2009). While Australian federal and state governments and agencies traditionally provide support for firms’ internationalisation, there is ‘an increasing tendency to take a sub‐national approach to promoting SME internationalisation within several countries, including Australia’ (OECD, 2009, p. 6).…”

“…Australian LGs have recognised the potential economic outcomes of SCRs with China, including through trade, inbound investment, and associated potential to generate economic opportunities for SMEs (Liu & Hu, 2018; Mascitelli & Chung, 2008). For Chinese municipal governments, there have likewise been increased efforts since the 1990s to mobilise their SCRs to promote international trade, investment, and economic activity (Liu & Hu, 2018; Mierzejewski, 2018).…”