NEWPORT council will discuss a motion to condemn the annual Chinese Yulin Dog Meat Festival, after more than 27,000 signed a petition calling on them to cut ties with the province it’s held in.

The South Wales Argus reported in September last year that15,000 people had signed a petition calling on Newport City Council to end their twinning relationship with Guangxi province - home of the Yulin festival.

Newport has been twinned with province since 1996. The council website explains the relationship promotes friendly co-operation between the UK and China and strengthens mutual understanding and friendship.

But people are angry about the relationship because Guangxi is also home to the Yulin Lychee and Dog Meat Festival, an annual 10 day event where more than 10,000 dogs are eaten.

READ MORE: Petition to end Newport's relationship with home of Yulin Dog Festival will be presented 'when it hits 20,000 signatures'

A petition, set up by 24-year-old Matthew James from Caerleon, has now reached 24,000 signatures.

On Tuesday, January 29, a motion calling on the province to end the festival will be discussed by the full council.

Mr James said he felt "overwhelmed and grateful" for the support his petition has received. 

"From the start I never thought it would gain this much attraction and I’m pleased that people from all around the world feel the same as I do about this barbaric festival," he said.

"With the petition being discussed next Tuesday I would find it very concerning for Newport Council to ignore the 27,000 people who have voted against our connection with the Chinese province.

"I often hear people say they don’t get involved in politics because 'It won’t make a difference'.

"This petition is a leading example of how we do have a voice and we will be heard.

"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to everyone who has taken time to vote."

Tuesday's motion was proposed by leader of the Newport council conservative group, Matthew Evans.

He told the South Wales Argus a member of the public came to him for help in getting the council to discuss the petition.

“I respect that there has been a long tradition of eating dog meat in China, and I’m not here to attack that, however vile and abhorrent I find it,” he said.

READ MORE: Anti-dog meat petition set to be handed to Newport council after 8,000 more people sign it in six days

“This motion is to condemn the vile way these animals are treated. The images you see are absolutely heart-breaking and sickening.

“To do nothing is completely not an option.

“I assume cross party support on this, as I don’t see how anyone could be against it.”

If the motion passes, Cllr Evans said he hoped a letter would be sent to the province, asking them to end the festival.

“Our influence with China is minimal, to be honest,” he added.

“But the whole point is that people are quite rightly outraged by this. We can’t just stand by.

“This motion is designed to put that across in the strongest terms possible to us.

“If we do not receive a positive response we should seriously look at cutting our ties with the province.”

Newport City Council previously said they would consider the petition once it had been presented to them.