In the first visit to China by a South Australian Premier since October 2019, the Premier will meet industry leaders and government officials to renew partnerships and explore further opportunities for trade and investment.
The Premier will travel with a delegation of leaders from South Australia’s university, education, wine, agriculture, aquaculture, tourism and trade sectors.
One of the priorities for the visit is the Malinauskas Labor Government’s commitment to invest $30 million to attract more international students to South Australia, a key component of the historic Heads of Agreement with the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia to support the creation of Adelaide University.
Prior to COVID-19, there were 12,564 students from mainland China studying in South Australia. Currently, students from mainland China make up the second largest cohort of international students enrolled in South Australian schools and universities, with almost 7500 students enrolled between January and June 2023.
China continues to be South Australia’s top export destination for merchandise, up 48 per cent for the year ending July 2023 to $2.8 billion. The growth has been driven by iron ore and concentrates, refined copper, wheat, petroleum products and almonds.
During his visit, Premier Malinauskas will go to Beijing, Shanghai and Jinan, the capital of Shandong Province with which South Australia has a 37-year sister-state relationship.
He will meet with government leaders in Jinan to deepen the relationship and discuss opportunities to explore ways to further strengthen the partnership.
The Premier will host a luncheon with Shanghai’s Chapter of the South Australia Club to further relations across a variety of industry sectors.
On his way to China the Premier will visit Singapore, where he will hold an investment round table and hold discussions about how South Australia can capitalise on the Australia-Singapore Digital Economy Agreement that came into force in December 2020.
Businesses and organisations represented on the mission include Thomas Foods International, Food SA, Treasury Wine Estates, Bec Hardy Wines, Ferguson Australia, the South Australia Wine Industry Association, Viterra and Maggie Beer Holdings.
As put by Peter Malinauskas
China continues to be South Australia’s largest export market and a very important trade and economic partner for our State.
Progress has been made at a Federal Government level to stabilise relations with China and I will be using this trip to ensure that at a state level, our relationship remains strong.
I will be advocating on behalf of our world-class capabilities and products, including wine and lobster.
A key piece of work during this trip will be positioning South Australia as a preferred destination for Chinese students to study and live.
