Shandong-South Australia Action Plan

Mr PICTON (Kaurna) (14:32): My question is to the Minister for Investment and Trade. How is the South Australian government strengthening ties with the next generation of Shandong leaders?

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH (Waite—Minister for Investment and Trade, Minister for Defence Industries, Minister for Veterans' Affairs) (14:32): I thank the member for his question because trade and exports are very important in his electorate. The South Australian government has worked hard to build relationships with our sister state Shandong at all levels of government.

Mr Whetstone interjecting:

The SPEAKER: The member for Chaffey is living dangerously.

The Hon. M.L.J. HAMILTON-SMITH: In April 2014, the Premier discussed the opportunity to share expertise on planning and urbanisation with the Governor of Shandong, Mr Guo Shuqing. The Shandong government is eager to understand the policy and practices that have led to Adelaide being globally recognised as a smart city. The Shandong government is, indeed, managing the challenges associated with a rapidly urbanising population driven by impressive economic growth.

That is why, as part of Party Secretary Jiang Yikang's recent visit to South Australia, a group of county level mayors was led by the Deputy Director General of the Shandong Housing and Urban Renewal Development to Australia for a three-week self-funded training program. The program was developed by the Department of State Development and the cultural and business adviser, Dr Alfred Huang, to showcase South Australia's expertise. This includes green buildings, climate change adaption, public transport systems, water and waste management systems, social welfare and city services and tourism.

The group's itinerary included briefings and site visits with a wide range of state government departments and four councils—the City of Adelaide, the City of Onkaparinga, the City of Mount Gambier and Naracoorte Lucindale. The Premier, the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills and the Minister for Local Government also had the opportunity to meet with the group.

Further highlights included site visits to The Square apartments in Woodville West, designed for people with a disability; the Traffic Management Centre in Norwood; Cleland Wildlife Park; and the University of South Australia. The program is an important initiative under the recently signed Shandong-South Australia Friendly Cooperation Action Plan. It is also an investment in the long-term sister-state relationship as we broaden South Australia's influence throughout Shandong to the next generation of senior leaders.

A vote of confidence in that relationship came earlier this week when the ANZ Bank announced it would open a branch in Qingdao. ANZ Chief Executive Officer Mike Smith said at the opening that:

Qingdao and Shandong have established long-term relationships with Australia and there is major potential for further growth in bilateral trade and investment.

Reference was also made to the sister-state relationship between Shandong Province and South Australia and our history of cultural and academic exchange.

The impacts of the state government's trade relationships are being noticed around the world as we take businesses to Shandong and welcome return visits here as we seek to create more jobs from export, and that is exactly what is happening in the SME sector. I look forward to welcoming the next group to visit South Australia from Shandong.