A new chapter in Xiamen-Sunshine Coast friendship

The Councilor of Sunshine Coast, Australia, Jenny Mckay, visited Xiamen Sept 16 - 26.

Mckay, who is an honorary citizen of Xiamen, visited the renowned Xiamen University and its affiliate music school, and the city’s youth center.

She talked with the staff of the Xiamen University museum about the possibility of increasing book trading, and with music school officers about setting up a sister school relationship with the Matthew Flinders Anglican College in Sunshine Coast.

Mckay also attended the China (Xiamen) International Leisure Tourism Expo 2016, which was held in Xiamen Sept 23 – 25.

At the expo, the councilor attended the “refreshing Fujian, beautiful Xiamen” promotional event, was interviewed by online media company Sina’s news program, and talked about initial cooperative plans with local tourism companies, including Xiamen C&D International Travel Service Group Co.

Looking to strike fish food import deals, Mckay visited local import-export company Xiamen Mincheng and feed producer Jiakang Feed.

Councilor Jenny Mckay of Sunshine Coast in Australia visits a local company. [Photo from xmfo.gov.cn]

Accompanying Mckay on her Xiamen tour was an Australian folk music band Bush Turkey. The band performed at the “refreshing Fujina, beautiful Xiamen” promotional event at the leisure tourism expo.

The band also presented their folk music and dancing skills to an audience of 200 at a musical concert in Huli district on Sept 24. They made friends with members of the local art troupe Xinya, who played traditional Chinese instrumental music at the concert.

The folk band Bush Turkey from Australia performs for a Xiamen audience. [Photo from xmfo.gov.cn]

Mckay invited Xinya to visit Sunshine Coast for Spring Festival and expressed her intention to push for more cultural exchanges.