Ministerial Statement

CHINA DELEGATION

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier, Treasurer, Minister for State Development, Minister for the Public Sector, Minister for the Arts) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Later this month, I will be travelling to China, including Hong Kong, accompanied by the largest South Australian government-led business delegation to travel to China. This visit follows the release of the government's economic statement and the vision it lays out for the future of the South Australian economy. It is about seizing opportunities, capitalising on our export strengths and furthering the goals set out in our seven strategic priorities.

The timing could not be better, following immediately upon the new relationship with China forged between the Chinese and Australian leadership just this week. More than 40 business leaders, industry representatives and departmental executives will join me in spruiking South Australia's mining, energy, resources and agribusiness sectors, as well as showcasing our premium food and wine and world-class education offerings.

The delegation includes some of our peak bodies, such as FoodSA and the SA Wine Industry Association, along with representatives from our universities and our arts and service sectors. China has one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, and the growth in demand from China appears to be sustainable well into the future. South Australia's diverse economy is ideally placed to partner with China.

As I have previously outlined, the economic statement spoke of the need for South Australia to become increasingly outward looking and open to the opportunities of export markets, particularly the emerging markets of Asia. It also made clear that our state's economic growth in coming years depends on what we do now. That is why we are taking action and doing it on multiple fronts, including by building strong strategic relationships with high-growth economies such as India and China.

The visit, which will run from 21 to 29 April, will start and end in Hong Kong where we will be furthering our ties and engaging South Australian expatriates, alumni and business contacts with close connections to our state. These individuals make up a network of ambassadors for South Australia and they are some of the best promoters of our state.

In addition to Beijing, where a series of meetings will be held with key Chinese government agencies responsible for trade and investment, the visit will focus on our sister province, Shandong Province, which has a population of 95 million people and a GDP of $803 billion. In Shandong, we will hold a cooperation and economic forum, which represents the new and deeper relationship developing between us.

The visit will be about relationship building, paving the way for further collaborations, promoting South Australia's products and capabilities and showcasing our investment opportunities. We know that there is a growing middle class in China that is willing to pay higher prices for premium, safe products, such as our premium food and wine produced in a clean environment with stringent regulatory settings.

It is my intention on this visit to put South Australia squarely on the map for Chinese investors in our sister province—something our new brand will help to do—and to support our business delegation in building new markets and opportunities in China. I will report back to the house on our achievements after we return.