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Legislative Council - Fifty-Fifth Parliament, First Session (55-1)
2024-03-05 Daily Xml
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China Trade Trip

The Hon. J.E. HANSON (15:20): My question is to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development. Can the minister inform the chamber about the state government food and wine trade delegation to China later this month?

The Hon. C.M. SCRIVEN (Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, Minister for Forest Industries) (15:20): I thank the honourable member for his question. South Australia continues to position itself to capitalise on opportunities to re-engage with China. Next week, I will lead a trade delegation to China, with a key focus on wine, food and agriculture. I will be joined by senior representatives from the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) and a delegation of wine, food and agribusiness representatives.

The schedule includes attending Taste of South Australia showcases in Guangzhou and Chengdu. These are significant events for South Australian producers, as produce and products will be featured to key importers and buyers. The trade delegation will also attend the China Food and Drinks Fair and join the South Australian wine summit in Chengdu.

In October 2022, at peak trade and prior to the commencement of tariffs, China was South Australia's largest wine export market and accounted for 47.2 per cent of South Australia's wine exports globally. In terms of dollar value, this market was worth $946.5 million. China remains an important market for our wine exporters, who are also continuing efforts to diversify market representation.

The delegation will also meet with key government counterparts in South Australia's sister state of Shandong to explore ways our jurisdictions can work together to build research, trade and business opportunities between the two states. South Australia has strong historical ties with the Shandong province, dating 38 years as an active and longstanding sister state partnership.

There will also be opportunities for technical cooperation through meetings with the Shandong Academy of Sciences and PIRSA, with shared interests in marine biosciences, crops, horticulture and wine. This trade delegation follows on, of course, from the Premier's trip to China in September last year where he met with government officials and businesses to discuss strengthening China's trade and education ties in South Australia.

The Australian government, I am advised, and we have seen, of course, publicly, is also focused on engagement and stabilisation of our relationship in China, including Prime Minister Anthony Albanese having met with President Xi Jinping in Beijing last year. Foreign affairs minister Penny Wong and federal trade minister Don Farrell have also visited China and I am advised that they continued to advocate for Australian producers on their recent trips.

I am sorry, I think I may have misread earlier—I talked about October 2022 at the peak trade period; I, of course, meant October 2020, prior to the tariffs. This trip will be an important opportunity to once again put South Australian wine and other products front and centre for Chinese importers and to collaborate through our sister state and friendship city relationships as we support our producers for a risk-managed re-engagement with China.

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