International Exchange

　City of HAKODATE

_{International Exchange}

International Exchanges
Capitalizing on the history of development as Japan's first port of international trade, Hakodate is engaged in a variety of international exchanges. Among them are friendly relations with four sister cities and a friendship city, commercial relations with neighbouring countries through the collaboration with Hakodate International Trading Incorporation, and the participation in the International Star-Shaped Citadel Cities Summit that aims at world peace.

Sister Cities
Halifax, Canada (affiliated in 1982)
In response to the growing voice among citizens requiring a sister city abroad, Hakodate affiliated with Halifax, Nova Scotia, a city with Halifax Citadel comparable to Hakodate’s special historic site Goryokaku and other similar characteristics. Affiliated at the time of the 60th anniversary of Hakodate as a city, the cities have actively been involved in a variety of programs such as mutual visits by administrative, economic and civic delegations, language study program for high school students, college exchanges, cooperation in the Hakodate Christmas Fantasy, and so on.

Activities:
-Administrative, economic, civic delegations visiting each other
-College students' exchanges
-Library exchanges
-Co-hosting of the International Star-Shaped Citadel Cities Summit
-Support for the Hakodate Christmas Fantasy

Vladivostok, Russia (affiliated in 1992)
Based on history of shared experiences and the active campaign driven by friendship organizations, the affiliation with Vladivostok, a capital of Primorsky Region was signed at the time of the 70th anniversary of the Hakodate city administration. The opening of the Hakodate branch of the Far Eastern State University followed, and the programs such as mutual visits by economic exchange research staff and city workers and others in areas of education and culture have taken place.

Activities:
-Opening of Far Eastern State University Hakodate Branch
-Administrative, economic, civic delegations visiting each other
-Exchange program of city workers
-Mutual visits by medical technicians
-Dispatch of a delegation of economic survey
-Youth exchange programs and other educational, cultural and sport exchanges

Lake Macquarie, Australia (affiliated in 1992)
With an initiative taken by private organizations engaging in educational and sport exchanges, Hakodate affiliated with Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, as part of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Hakodate as a city. Our joint activities include mutual visits by administrative, economic and civic delegations, youth and language teacher exchanges, mutual dispatching of athletes to the Half-Marathon events and other exchanges by sports organizations.

Activities:
-Administrative, economic, civic delegations visiting each other
-Youth and language instructors exchange programs
-Mutual dispatch of athletes for the half-marathon events in both cities
-Exchange of sports delegations

Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia (affiliated in 1997)
Our friendly relations was started with the opening of the regular air service between Hakodate and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in April 1994. The exchange programs include dispatching of civic delegations and members of business circles, junior high school students exchanges with home-stays, mutual visits by orchestras and disability groups and others.

Activities:
-Youth exchange programs with home-stay
-Administrative, economic, civic delegations visiting each other
-Mutual visits by civic orchestras of both cities
-Various Sakhalin Projects related business established by using the regular air route.

Tianjin, China (friendship-city affiliation in 2001)
Many citizens have visited Tianjin since the first chartered plane flew from Hakodate to Tianjin in 1995. A variety of programs including school and hospital affiliations grew out of the campaign aiming at the opening of the regular air service, which eventually led to the friendship-city affiliation. Administrative and educational exchanges have also taken place.

Activities:
-Administrative, economic, civic delegations visiting each other
-School exchanges

Goyang, Korea (affiliated in 2011)
The delegation from Hakodate visited Goyang for the first time in 2009 for the tourism promotion.Following the initial visit and subsequent mutual visits, the sister city affiliation was concluded. Since the city of Goyang has an easy access to Seoul and Incheon International Airport that has regular service with Hakodate Airport, active exchanges in the fields of economy, education,culture and sports are expected.

Activities:
-Mutual visits by administrations and delegations from economic, tourism, art, and cultural fields
-Sports and educational exchanges

International Star-Shaped Citadel Cities Summit
The International Star-Shaped Citadel Cities Summit is held every three years with the participation of the world's cities with star-shaped citadels. Its purpose is to explore various topics ranging from historical and cultural aspects of the citadels to the future roles of cities and citadels, and to achieve active development of the local community. The summit also aims at fostering friendship among all participants and thus contributing to the long and lasting world peace.

The 1st Summit
Date: July 30 - August 1,1997
Place: Hakodate
Participating cities: 10 cities from 9 countries

The 2nd Summit
Date: July 6 - July 9, 2000
Place: Palmanova, Italy
Participating cities: 9 cities from 8 countries

The 3rd Summit
Date: August 5 - August 9, 2003
Place: St. Petersburg, Russia and Hamina, Finland co-hosted
Participating cities: 5 cities from 5 countries

The 4th Summit
Date: July 8 - July 11, 2006
Place: Hellevoetsluis, Netherlands
Participating cities: 6 cities from 6 countries

The 5th Summit planned for 2009 in Hue was suspended due to the global financial crisis that affected almost all participating cities.

Member cities: Hellevoetsluis (Netherlands), Halifax(Canada), Hamina (Finland), Hue (Viet Nam), Palmanova (Italy), St. Petersburg (Russia), Nicosia (Cyprus), Saku (Japan), Hakodate

International & Intercity Affairs Section,
Planning Department, City of Hakodate
4-13 Shinonome-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido, JAPAN 040-8666
PH: 0138-21-3619
Fax: 0138-23-7604
E-mail: hkd-intl@city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp

copyright 2012,City of Hakodate,All rights reserved

International Exchanges Capitalizing on the history of development as Japan's first port of international trade, Hakodate is engaged in a variety of international exchanges. Among them are friendly relations with four sister cities and a friendship city, commercial relations with neighbouring countries through the collaboration with Hakodate International Trading Incorporation, and the participation in the International Star-Shaped Citadel Cities Summit that aims at world peace. Sister Cities Halifax, Canada (affiliated in 1982) In response to the growing voice among citizens requiring a sister city abroad, Hakodate affiliated with Halifax, Nova Scotia, a city with Halifax Citadel comparable to Hakodate’s special historic site Goryokaku and other similar characteristics. Affiliated at the time of the 60th anniversary of Hakodate as a city, the cities have actively been involved in a variety of programs such as mutual visits by administrative, economic and civic delegations, language study program for high school students, college exchanges, cooperation in the Hakodate Christmas Fantasy, and so on. Activities: -Administrative, economic, civic delegations visiting each other -College students' exchanges -Library exchanges -Co-hosting of the International Star-Shaped Citadel Cities Summit -Support for the Hakodate Christmas Fantasy Vladivostok, Russia (affiliated in 1992) Based on history of shared experiences and the active campaign driven by friendship organizations, the affiliation with Vladivostok, a capital of Primorsky Region was signed at the time of the 70th anniversary of the Hakodate city administration. The opening of the Hakodate branch of the Far Eastern State University followed, and the programs such as mutual visits by economic exchange research staff and city workers and others in areas of education and culture have taken place. Activities: -Opening of Far Eastern State University Hakodate Branch -Administrative, economic, civic delegations visiting each other -Exchange program of city workers -Mutual visits by medical technicians -Dispatch of a delegation of economic survey -Youth exchange programs and other educational, cultural and sport exchanges Lake Macquarie, Australia (affiliated in 1992) With an initiative taken by private organizations engaging in educational and sport exchanges, Hakodate affiliated with Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, as part of the celebration of the 70th anniversary of Hakodate as a city. Our joint activities include mutual visits by administrative, economic and civic delegations, youth and language teacher exchanges, mutual dispatching of athletes to the Half-Marathon events and other exchanges by sports organizations. Activities: -Administrative, economic, civic delegations visiting each other -Youth and language instructors exchange programs -Mutual dispatch of athletes for the half-marathon events in both cities -Exchange of sports delegations Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, Russia (affiliated in 1997) Our friendly relations was started with the opening of the regular air service between Hakodate and Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk in April 1994. The exchange programs include dispatching of civic delegations and members of business circles, junior high school students exchanges with home-stays, mutual visits by orchestras and disability groups and others. Activities: -Youth exchange programs with home-stay -Administrative, economic, civic delegations visiting each other -Mutual visits by civic orchestras of both cities -Various Sakhalin Projects related business established by using the regular air route. Tianjin, China (friendship-city affiliation in 2001) Many citizens have visited Tianjin since the first chartered plane flew from Hakodate to Tianjin in 1995. A variety of programs including school and hospital affiliations grew out of the campaign aiming at the opening of the regular air service, which eventually led to the friendship-city affiliation. Administrative and educational exchanges have also taken place. Activities: -Administrative, economic, civic delegations visiting each other -School exchanges Goyang, Korea (affiliated in 2011) The delegation from Hakodate visited Goyang for the first time in 2009 for the tourism promotion.Following the initial visit and subsequent mutual visits, the sister city affiliation was concluded. Since the city of Goyang has an easy access to Seoul and Incheon International Airport that has regular service with Hakodate Airport, active exchanges in the fields of economy, education,culture and sports are expected. Activities: -Mutual visits by administrations and delegations from economic, tourism, art, and cultural fields -Sports and educational exchanges International Star-Shaped Citadel Cities Summit The International Star-Shaped Citadel Cities Summit is held every three years with the participation of the world's cities with star-shaped citadels. Its purpose is to explore various topics ranging from historical and cultural aspects of the citadels to the future roles of cities and citadels, and to achieve active development of the local community. The summit also aims at fostering friendship among all participants and thus contributing to the long and lasting world peace. The 1st Summit Date: July 30 - August 1,1997 Place: Hakodate Participating cities: 10 cities from 9 countries The 2nd Summit Date: July 6 - July 9, 2000 Place: Palmanova, Italy Participating cities: 9 cities from 8 countries The 3rd Summit Date: August 5 - August 9, 2003 Place: St. Petersburg, Russia and Hamina, Finland co-hosted Participating cities: 5 cities from 5 countries The 4th Summit Date: July 8 - July 11, 2006 Place: Hellevoetsluis, Netherlands Participating cities: 6 cities from 6 countries The 5th Summit planned for 2009 in Hue was suspended due to the global financial crisis that affected almost all participating cities. Member cities: Hellevoetsluis (Netherlands), Halifax(Canada), Hamina (Finland), Hue (Viet Nam), Palmanova (Italy), St. Petersburg (Russia), Nicosia (Cyprus), Saku (Japan), Hakodate International & Intercity Affairs Section, Planning Department, City of Hakodate 4-13 Shinonome-cho, Hakodate, Hokkaido, JAPAN 040-8666 PH: 0138-21-3619 Fax: 0138-23-7604 E-mail: hkd-intl@city.hakodate.hokkaido.jp
copyright 2012,City of Hakodate,All rights reserved