Chief Minister Katy Gallagher has announced a Labor government will pursue a sister city relationship with Washington DC if re-elected this month.

Gallagher says the two cities already have “much in common” in business, education, science and culture.

“Both are planned capital cities with relatively small populations, but experience all the pressure and challenges that come with city living,” she says.

“We are both government towns with significant knowledge based economies, are home to highly-regarded national cultural institutions and associated tourism. In addition, we both have nation leading universities, which create significant employment benefits to our local economies.”

Gallagher believes the partnership would bring “huge” social and economic benefits to both cities.

“There is already a strong relationship between the two cities,” she says.

“Deputy Chief Minister Andrew Barr visited Washington last year, leading successful trade mission and starting informal discussions with Ambassador Kim Beazley about closer ties between the two capitals.

“We are already seeing the benefits of that trade mission, with several Canberra businesses establishing offices in Washington and winning contracts with US Government agencies.”

Canberra currently has sister city relationships with Nara in Japan and Beijing and Hangzhou in China.