Shane Van Styn, mayor of Geraldton, visited Zhanjiang on Sept 13 to seek closer cooperation in mineral exploitation, economy, trade, education, culture, and tourism.

Geraldton is a coastal city in the Mid West region of Australia. Rich in natural resources, it is one of Australia's major agricultural and pastoral areas, the world's largest Australian lobster export center, and a world-class fiber producing region.

Geraldton is a coastal city in the Mid West region of Australia. [Photo/visitgeraldton.com.au]

Zhanjiang and Geraldton opened communications with each other in 2007, and established a sister-city relationship in 2013.

Zhanjiang Party Chief Zheng Renhao extended a warm welcome to the Geraldton delegation, and told them about the city's plans to become a national comprehensive transportation hub.

The opening of the Jiangmen-Zhanjiang railway has brought Zhanjiang closer to cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In the future, Zhanjiang will build another international airport and be intersected by five high-speed railways, six expressways, and a coastal tourism highway.

The opening of the Jiangmen-Zhanjiang railway has brought Zhanjiang closer to cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. [Photo/Nanfang Plus]

According to Styn, this is the fifth time he has visited Zhanjiang. He has noticed dramatic changes in the city each time he has visited, and is pleased with its progress in socioeconomic development. The two parties are expected to strengthen their cooperation through enhanced exchanges.