Australian Consulate-General Guangzhou
Media Release PD19/08 10 September 2008
Australia-Fujian Relations Promoted
Australian Parliamentary Secretary for Pacific Island Affairs, the Hon Duncan Kerr SC MP, promoted Australian-Fujian relations and called for expanded cultural and business ties during a visit to Xiamen to attend this year’s China International Fair for Investment and Trade. “Australia welcomes Fujian investors to Australia,” Mr Kerr said today, as he completed his four-day visit.
During his visit Mr Kerr led Australia’s delegation to the Investment, Trade and Tourism Ministerial Conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum on 7 September, and discussed the development of Australia’s relationship with Fujian province with government and business leaders.
On 9 September Mr Kerr discussed expanding business and cultural ties with Fujian Vice Governor Hong Jiexu. Mr Kerr noted that while Australia-Fujian trade exceeded US$1 billion, the balance was heavily in Fujian’s favour. “Australia needs to work harder to realize the many obvious opportunities that Fujian offers,” he said. “The sister-state relationship with my home state of Tasmania provides a good platform for building more economic and people-to-people links.” Mr Hong welcomed Mr Kerr’s suggestion that Fujian intensify business and cultural exchanges with Tasmania.
The previous day, Mr Kerr told the Australia-China Investment Forum 2008 that there was great potential to expand Chinese investment in Australia. “Total Chinese investment in Australia is still relatively small,” he said. “Total Chinese investment in Australia is $6 billion, compared to $445 billion from the United States.” “But this figure is growing fast,” Mr Kerr added. “Since November 2007, the value of applications for proposed investment from mainland China has reached almost $30 billion.”
While Australia’s exports of goods such as iron ore, LNG and other minerals continued to grow strongly, Mr Kerr highlighted the potential for growth in exports of services, including architecture and design services. “Australian companies have already been active in providing architectural services across China, exemplified by the Australian-designed “Water Cube” Olympic Swimming Centre that was an icon of the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing,” Mr Kerr said. Illustrating this point, Mr Kerr joined Macau Chief Executive Edmund Ho and Chinese leaders to lay the foundation stone for the Australian-designed Zhong-Ao Yachting Marina in Xiamen.
At a meeting with Xiamen Mayor Liu Xigui today, Mr Kerr expressed optimism about the future of business relations with Xiamen, and informed the Mayor about plans to establish an Australian Chamber of Commerce in Xiamen to facilitate and encourage business cooperation.
A spokesman of the organizers of the new Chamber, Mr James Rein, said: “We are in the final stages of registering an Australian Chamber to serve the Australian business community here. Austcham Xiamen will provide advice and assistance to the many Australians interested in doing business with Xiamen,” Mr Rein said. The Australian Consul-General in Guangzhou (who is also responsible for relations with Fujian), Mr Sean Kelly, welcomed the news. “I look forward to working closely with this new Austcham chapter to build stronger business links with Fujian,” Mr Kelly said.
For further information, please contact Ms Willow Li, Research Assistant
(Tel: 020 3814 0186, E-mail: [email protected] )