The partnership between Dubbo and Japan has been strengthened following a visit from the Japanese Ambassador to Australia.
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Reiichiro Takahashi and his wife Masako visited the city as part of a road trip to the region. They were joined by Colonel Yuki Kimura, the defence attaché and Soichi Igari, the political consul from the Consulate-General of Japan - Sydney.
They took a stroll around the Shoyoen at the Dubbo Regional Botanic Gardens, before enjoying a bowl of green tea serviced by tea master Anthony Brien from the Urasenke Association Sydney.
"The garden itself was designed by a young Japanese high school student and I think this is really wonderful because as ambassador I am always mindful of the need and importance to pass the baton to the next generations so the beautiful relations between the two countries can be sustained for the future," Mr Takahashi said.
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"The way that sister city relations between the city of Dubbo and the sister city of Minokamo in Japan are is exactly the way that it should be. When high school student get themselves involved from the beginning that remains with their heart for the years to come and I'm very glad to see that."
Mr Takahashi said he wanted to visit Dubbo not only because he had heard about the beautiful Japanese garden, but to get some inspiration for improving partnerships between communities.
He used the gardens themselves, which were made possible thanks to the link between Dubbo and Minokamo, as an example of strong ties.
"This year happens to be the 75th anniversary since the end of the second world war. In that war we were fierce enemies, we fought each other and war entails a lot of atrocities. But after 75 years, look at us right now. We are the strongest allies and friends in the Asia-Pacific," he said.
"As ambassador a lot of my job is trying to promote this strong partnership into the next stage. But it is not only about government to government, business to business, I'm strongly convinced the most important element to this partnership is the relationship between communities, between people. "
Mr Takahashi also visited Taronga Western Plains Zoo to speak with director Steve Hinks and attended a dinner with mayor Ben Shields.
He also thanked Cr Shields and everybody who helped make the visit so fruitful.