Ministerial Statement

Official Visit to China

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS (Croydon—Premier) (14:01): I seek leave to make a ministerial statement.

Leave granted.

The Hon. P.B. MALINAUSKAS: Today, I can announce that in September, as Premier I will make my first official visit to China via Singapore. This will be the first visit to China by a South Australian Premier since October 2019. As part of the visit, I will also lead a business delegation that aims to include representatives from our university sector, education, wine, agriculture, aquaculture, tourism and trade sectors.

This week, my government signed a historic heads of agreement with the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia to support the creation of a new university for the future. That agreement includes a commitment to invest $30 million to attract more international students to South Australia. A key focus of the visit will be to promote South Australia as a destination of choice for students from China and Singapore.

Students from mainland China currently make up the second largest cohort of international students enrolled in South Australia's schools and universities. Between January and April 2023, there were 6,785 Chinese students enrolled in South Australia, representing 19 per cent of all international students. However, this is significantly lower than the pre-COVID level in 2019, when there were 12,564 studying in South Australia. The visit will also focus on other elements of trade, including tourism, agriculture, aquaculture and wine, and will include high-level engagements with business leaders and government officials.

China is South Australia's number one export destination for merchandise. In the 12 months to May, merchandise exports to China totalled $2.8 billion in value, a 48 per cent increase on the preceding year. While in China, I will be advocating for the easing of trade blockages affecting South Australian exporters, including wine and lobster. I welcome the progress made between Australia and China on agreeing on a path forward to lift unjustified duties on Australian barley. I hope that the duties on wine and crayfish can also be lifted through a similar process. While in China, I intend to visit Beijing, Shanghai and Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province.

South Australia has a 37-year sister state relationship with Shandong. Shandong is China's second most populous province, with a population of more than 100 million people. It is China's third largest provincial economy, with an annual GDP of $US1.3 trillion. If Shandong were a country, it would have the 15^th largest economy in the world. I look forward to meeting key senior officials in Jinan to deepen our strong relationship and explore ways to further strengthen this partnership.

Our economic relationship with China is a mutually beneficial one. After almost four years, this visit will provide an opportunity to reconnect with Chinese officials and business leaders from a range of industries. It will aim to strengthen our trade and tourism links, improve trade of South Australian products, and produce and develop stronger relationships to ensure South Australia is a preferred destination for Chinese students to study and live. The visit will take place between 14 and 21 September this year.