The leader of Edinburgh City Council has been accused of 'jetting off in the middle of a cost of living crisis' after he was given to go ahead to attend a summit in Taiwan later this year.
The council's SNP group said the objectives of Cammy Day's visit were "vague" while Green councillors raised concerns over the environmental impact it would have.
The trip, which will be funded by the Taiwanese Government and was approved by a majority of Labour, Conservative and Lib Dems this week, will see the council leader and one officer attend the 2023 Asian Smart City Summit in Taipei from March 28 to April 1.
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Cllr Day stressed to councillors the importance of fostering the city's "growing" friendships with Taiwan and that Edinburgh was "seen to be making our presence across the world known".
However taking to floor at the City Chambers on Thursday (February 9) Cllr Stuart Dobin said a report on the four-day visit was "vague".
"I like Taiwan," he said, "my favourite sushi restaurant in the world is tucked up a little side street in central Tapei."
He added he was "keen to understand" what the council's delegation would be doing to "bring back learning from the smart city summit".
Fellow SNP councillor Danny Aston asked: "Is this really the time for the council leader to be jetting off to Taiwan in the middle of the worst cost of living crisis that we've experienced in a generation?"
Cllr Day said following the meeting they "missed the point" and described the comments as "off the mark".
"We're keen to develop a friendship with Taiwan. It's not just a visit it's a conference event that's set for four days in March," he added.
"The SNP leader and former Provost have jetted around the world or accepted trips to China and Canada and nobody's mentioned a thing about that.
"I accept the comments that we should have included an environmental impact assessment - and we will."
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