Ministerial Statement

China-Australia Leaders Forum

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:00): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL: Yesterday, I attended the first China-Australia Leaders Forum in Sydney along with state and territory leaders from around Australia. Representatives from the Chinese sister provinces of each of our states and territories were also present.

We are proud of South Australia's sister-state relationship with Shandong Province, and it was highly encouraging that the most important decision-maker in the province, the Communist Party Secretary of Shandong Province, Jiang Yikang, was present at the forum. This was the third time I have had the opportunity to speak to Mr Jiang, and together we further strengthened our relationship.

I was joined at the forum by a delegation of South Australian business, industry and government leaders representing the many sectors of the South Australian economy likely to benefit from the trade agreement. I greatly appreciate their interest in developing stronger ties with China, and it indicates a growing awareness of the China opportunity—an opportunity that we are well placed to seize.

The forum represented an immediate opportunity to develop a strategy to maximise the benefit of the recently concluded China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. Leaders like Hagen Stehr, Darren Thomas, Karen Kent and Jason Kuchel were present yesterday to take advantage of the opportunity to promote newly-strengthened opportunities in the agribusiness, aquaculture, wine, education and mining sectors in South Australia.

The first session of the forum was a one-on-one session between South Australia and China. Together, we agreed to hold the second South Australian Shandong Development and Cooperation Forum in May next year. This represents another significant opportunity for our state. Both sides want to take the relationship to the next level.

During the final session of the China-Australia Leaders Forum, I was asked to address the forum. I took the opportunity to promote our health industry sector, describing our health precinct and our expertise in this area. Subsequent discussions confirmed Shandong's demand for our products and expertise in the health industries, and we will now work hard to develop opportunities in this sector. The forum concluded with speeches from Prime Minister Tony Abbott and the President of the People's Republic of China, Mr Xi Jinping.

Following the announcement of a consulate general, and the signing of the FTA, our presence at the China-Australia Leaders Forum capped off a significant week for South Australia's relationship with China.