Shandong-South Australia Action Plan

The Hon. J.W. WEATHERILL (Cheltenham—Premier) (14:06): It is also my very great pleasure to extend through the parliament a warm welcome to Shandong party secretary, His Excellency Mr Jiang Yikang, who arrived in Adelaide for his first visit to South Australia. Accompanying the party secretary is the largest ever delegation of Shandong businesses to our state.

For 29 years, Shandong and South Australia have enjoyed a fruitful sister state relationship supporting cooperation in many areas of business, research, development, government administration and education. Shandong now sees South Australia as the window into Australia. Equally, Shandong is connecting South Australia with new markets across China. In the most recent chapter of our friendship, I led the largest ever business delegation to Shandong in May. As a result, 25 new MOUs were signed in Shandong and $335 million in investment between businesses was unlocked.

Last night at the official dinner at the Adelaide Convention Centre, over 150 business delegates witnessed the party secretary and I signing the Shandong-South Australia Friendly Cooperation Action Plan (2015-2018).

The plan establishes a framework to further progress our relationship into areas of mutual economic and cultural benefit. It responds to the willingness of both sides to elevate our relationship. Through consultation, the plan has reached consensus between our regions, with particular emphasis to:

build a new model of sister state/province relationship under the framework of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement;

enhance education exchanges and research and development cooperation;

deepen agricultural exchanges and cooperation;

expand investment and trade cooperation, including South Australia facilitating market entry of noncompeting premium Shandong products by supporting 15 Shandong companies every year into agricultural produce, textile, garment, articles of daily use, sports and fitness equipment, and agricultural machinery using South Australia as a window to access the wider Australian market. Shandong will support South Australia in delivering its economic priority to create new exporters every year. Specifically Shandong will offer distribution and network channels to a minimum of 20 export ready companies to export to China every year. South Australia and Shandong will work towards a South Australian products distribution centre in Shandong once conditions permit.

cultural, arts, sports and tourism exchanges;

promote mining cooperation;

cooperate on health, aged care and disability services; and

cooperation on urban planning and architectural design.

There will also be direct opportunities for more than 150 business delegates who have joined His Excellency on the trade mission, with highlights in fields including: health, agribusiness, the Shandong exhibit at the Royal Adelaide Show, education and tourism. Also, 18 Shandong county mayors will be provided with a three-week urban renewal and modernisation training program. This program will be offered again in 2016 and 2017.

In 2016, we will once again return to Shandong to commemorate the historic 30^th anniversary of the Shandong-South Australia sister state relationship. To mark the 30^th anniversary, the Minister for Investment and Trade will investigate:

hosting a friendship sports match or cup, particularly investigating soccer or basketball, or both;

ensuring Shandong and South Australian businesses are matched to increase investment and trade, including through risk control support and dedicated in-country resources;

establishment of a product distribution centre in Shandong; and

a role for the Amazing Ambassador and future student ambassadors to engage with the community to identify local activities and celebrations that best respect our long friendship.

I look forward to our continuing friendship and partnership with Shandong and to celebrating our next milestone, the 30^th anniversary of the sister state relationship.