❓ The Premier details the success of his China visit, highlighting the sister-state relationship with Zhejiang Province, trade and investment opportunities, and meetings with high-level officials. He encourages all members to visit China.
AnsweredQoN 258Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHINA VISIT BY PREMIER 258. Mr B.S. WYATT to the Premier: Will the Premier describe the success of his recent visit to China? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Victoria Park very much for the question. Let me say this to all members of the chamber, and all members of this Parliament, including members of the other house: I encourage all members to take the opportunity of visiting China, using the imprest account, if that is the mechanism by which to do it. It is a very worthwhile experience for Western Australian legislators, and people in our position across all parties - Independents as well - to see just what is happening in China, to see the strength of the Chinese economy, and to gain an appreciation of what is likely to happen in China in the next five, 10 and perhaps even 20 years. This was my third visit to China in three years. On each visit, I have been awestruck by the amount of development, growth and change in that society. The timing of my visit on this occasion was principally to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of our sister-state relationship with Zhejiang Province. Zhejiang Province has about 40 million people, I believe, and that relationship was established in 1997. The wisdom and foresight of the people on both sides in establishing that relationship have been borne out by subsequent developments. I attended numerous events, as one tends to do on these visits. Among those, I was part of the opening of the China Australia Bio-therapeutic Summit, with leading scientists from Western Australia, including Dr Fiona Wood, and others, and Chinese scientists, who are looking at ways of collaborating in the area of bio-therapeutics, which is restorative-regenerative medicine of the type that we are familiar with here through Fiona Wood’s spray-on skin innovation. I visited the Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium, at which Western Australia had its own stall. The symposium was of a massive scale. I have been to exhibitions in the Middle East, but this was something else. I am very grateful that the Zhejiang government provided the space for the Western Australian stall for free. I opened Western Australian investment seminars in Hangzhou and Beijing, both of which were attended by a large number of people. I also attended the English language competition award ceremony, an event in which the Minister for Education and Training might like to engage. I went to the first one two years ago in 2005 in which 40 000 students from the Zhejiang province took part. Knowledge of Western Australia is a prerequisite for success in the competition. I guarantee members that some of the questions answered by students could not be answered by several members of Parliament, because their knowledge was so detailed. In 2005, 40 000 students took part in the competition; this year, 160 000 students took part. One does not have to be too imaginative to understand the potential benefit that is being developed for Western Australia. I attended the opening of a new steel mill at Ningbo - I know that you, Mr Speaker, are familiar with the mill - at which Western Australian ore will be milled into steel. I also visited Beijing and Shanghai to attend business events and meetings with high-level senior officials, including Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan. We had a meeting in the Great Hall of the People, which was quite an experience. I met the Party Secretary of Zhejiang, Zhao Hongzhu - he said he was familiar with you, Mr Speaker, and reflected upon your visit to China very affectionately - and the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Xi Jinping. When discussion of the Speaker’s visit arose, I asked whether he had left a favourable impression. There were some glances around the room before all those present nodded in agreement and said that, yes, he did leave an impression - and it was very favourable! Western Australia plays a huge role in China. We are very lucky in that 57 per cent of Australia’s exports to China come from Western Australia. Western Australia is important to China; irrespective of all other things, we are critical to its strategies for the future. Iron ore comprises the vast bulk of that trade, but gas also plays a part. Many other trade opportunities are opening up, including professional services, architectural services and legal advice; a gamut of things are now well and truly entrenched in the relationship between our two communities. We have developed a mutually beneficial relationship. It is of particular benefit to us, however, because the two-way trade between Western Australia and China is in excess of $13 billion, and of that $11 billion represents our exports to China. Members can appreciate the massive benefit that is being accrued by our relationship through a succession of governments that stem back to the Burke era. Richard Court is very highly regarded in China, as is my predecessor, Geoff Gallop. All members of Parliament who have visited China - ministers, backbenchers and members on the other side of the house - have strengthened that relationship. I encourage as many members as possible to take the opportunity to visit China.
CHINA VISIT BY PREMIER
Will the Premier describe the success of his recent visit to China? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park very much for the question. Let me say this to all members of the chamber, and all members of this Parliament, including members of the other house: I encourage all members to take the opportunity of visiting China, using the imprest account, if that is the mechanism by which to do it. It is a very worthwhile experience for Western Australian legislators, and people in our position across all parties - Independents as well - to see just what is happening in China, to see the strength of the Chinese economy, and to gain an appreciation of what is likely to happen in China in the next five, 10 and perhaps even 20 years. This was my third visit to China in three years. On each visit, I have been awestruck by the amount of development, growth and change in that society. The timing of my visit on this occasion was principally to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of our sister-state relationship with Zhejiang Province. Zhejiang Province has about 40 million people, I believe, and that relationship was established in 1997. The wisdom and foresight of the people on both sides in establishing that relationship have been borne out by subsequent developments. I attended numerous events, as one tends to do on these visits. Among those, I was part of the opening of the China Australia Bio-therapeutic Summit, with leading scientists from Western Australia, including Dr Fiona Wood, and others, and Chinese scientists, who are looking at ways of collaborating in the area of bio-therapeutics, which is restorative-regenerative medicine of the type that we are familiar with here through Fiona Wood’s spray-on skin innovation. I visited the Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium, at which Western Australia had its own stall. The symposium was of a massive scale. I have been to exhibitions in the Middle East, but this was something else. I am very grateful that the Zhejiang government provided the space for the Western Australian stall for free. I opened Western Australian investment seminars in Hangzhou and Beijing, both of which were attended by a large number of people. I also attended the English language competition award ceremony, an event in which the Minister for Education and Training might like to engage. I went to the first one two years ago in 2005 in which 40 000 students from the Zhejiang province took part. Knowledge of Western Australia is a prerequisite for success in the competition. I guarantee members that some of the questions answered by students could not be answered by several members of Parliament, because their knowledge was so detailed. In 2005, 40 000 students took part in the competition; this year, 160 000 students took part. One does not have to be too imaginative to understand the potential benefit that is being developed for Western Australia. I attended the opening of a new steel mill at Ningbo - I know that you, Mr Speaker, are familiar with the mill - at which Western Australian ore will be milled into steel. I also visited Beijing and Shanghai to attend business events and meetings with high-level senior officials, including Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan. We had a meeting in the Great Hall of the People, which was quite an experience. I met the Party Secretary of Zhejiang, Zhao Hongzhu - he said he was familiar with you, Mr Speaker, and reflected upon your visit to China very affectionately - and the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Xi Jinping. When discussion of the Speaker’s visit arose, I asked whether he had left a favourable impression. There were some glances around the room before all those present nodded in agreement and said that, yes, he did leave an impression - and it was very favourable! Western Australia plays a huge role in China. We are very lucky in that 57 per cent of Australia’s exports to China come from Western Australia. Western Australia is important to China; irrespective of all other things, we are critical to its strategies for the future. Iron ore comprises the vast bulk of that trade, but gas also plays a part. Many other trade opportunities are opening up, including professional services, architectural services and legal advice; a gamut of things are now well and truly entrenched in the relationship between our two communities. We have developed a mutually beneficial relationship. It is of particular benefit to us, however, because the two-way trade between Western Australia and China is in excess of $13 billion, and of that $11 billion represents our exports to China. Members can appreciate the massive benefit that is being accrued by our relationship through a succession of governments that stem back to the Burke era. Richard Court is very highly regarded in China, as is my predecessor, Geoff Gallop. All members of Parliament who have visited China - ministers, backbenchers and members on the other side of the house - have strengthened that relationship. I encourage as many members as possible to take the opportunity to visit China.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park very much for the question. Let me say this to all members of the chamber, and all members of this Parliament, including members of the other house: I encourage all members to take the opportunity of visiting China, using the imprest account, if that is the mechanism by which to do it. It is a very worthwhile experience for Western Australian legislators, and people in our position across all parties - Independents as well - to see just what is happening in China, to see the strength of the Chinese economy, and to gain an appreciation of what is likely to happen in China in the next five, 10 and perhaps even 20 years. This was my third visit to China in three years. On each visit, I have been awestruck by the amount of development, growth and change in that society. The timing of my visit on this occasion was principally to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of our sister-state relationship with Zhejiang Province. Zhejiang Province has about 40 million people, I believe, and that relationship was established in 1997. The wisdom and foresight of the people on both sides in establishing that relationship have been borne out by subsequent developments. I attended numerous events, as one tends to do on these visits. Among those, I was part of the opening of the China Australia Bio-therapeutic Summit, with leading scientists from Western Australia, including Dr Fiona Wood, and others, and Chinese scientists, who are looking at ways of collaborating in the area of bio-therapeutics, which is restorative-regenerative medicine of the type that we are familiar with here through Fiona Wood’s spray-on skin innovation. I visited the Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium, at which Western Australia had its own stall. The symposium was of a massive scale. I have been to exhibitions in the Middle East, but this was something else. I am very grateful that the Zhejiang government provided the space for the Western Australian stall for free. I opened Western Australian investment seminars in Hangzhou and Beijing, both of which were attended by a large number of people. I also attended the English language competition award ceremony, an event in which the Minister for Education and Training might like to engage. I went to the first one two years ago in 2005 in which 40 000 students from the Zhejiang province took part. Knowledge of Western Australia is a prerequisite for success in the competition. I guarantee members that some of the questions answered by students could not be answered by several members of Parliament, because their knowledge was so detailed. In 2005, 40 000 students took part in the competition; this year, 160 000 students took part. One does not have to be too imaginative to understand the potential benefit that is being developed for Western Australia. I attended the opening of a new steel mill at Ningbo - I know that you, Mr Speaker, are familiar with the mill - at which Western Australian ore will be milled into steel. I also visited Beijing and Shanghai to attend business events and meetings with high-level senior officials, including Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan. We had a meeting in the Great Hall of the People, which was quite an experience. I met the Party Secretary of Zhejiang, Zhao Hongzhu - he said he was familiar with you, Mr Speaker, and reflected upon your visit to China very affectionately - and the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Xi Jinping. When discussion of the Speaker’s visit arose, I asked whether he had left a favourable impression. There were some glances around the room before all those present nodded in agreement and said that, yes, he did leave an impression - and it was very favourable! Western Australia plays a huge role in China. We are very lucky in that 57 per cent of Australia’s exports to China come from Western Australia. Western Australia is important to China; irrespective of all other things, we are critical to its strategies for the future. Iron ore comprises the vast bulk of that trade, but gas also plays a part. Many other trade opportunities are opening up, including professional services, architectural services and legal advice; a gamut of things are now well and truly entrenched in the relationship between our two communities. We have developed a mutually beneficial relationship. It is of particular benefit to us, however, because the two-way trade between Western Australia and China is in excess of $13 billion, and of that $11 billion represents our exports to China. Members can appreciate the massive benefit that is being accrued by our relationship through a succession of governments that stem back to the Burke era. Richard Court is very highly regarded in China, as is my predecessor, Geoff Gallop. All members of Parliament who have visited China - ministers, backbenchers and members on the other side of the house - have strengthened that relationship. I encourage as many members as possible to take the opportunity to visit China.
I thank the member for Victoria Park very much for the question. Let me say this to all members of the chamber, and all members of this Parliament, including members of the other house: I encourage all members to take the opportunity of visiting China, using the imprest account, if that is the mechanism by which to do it. It is a very worthwhile experience for Western Australian legislators, and people in our position across all parties - Independents as well - to see just what is happening in China, to see the strength of the Chinese economy, and to gain an appreciation of what is likely to happen in China in the next five, 10 and perhaps even 20 years. This was my third visit to China in three years. On each visit, I have been awestruck by the amount of development, growth and change in that society. The timing of my visit on this occasion was principally to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of our sister-state relationship with Zhejiang Province. Zhejiang Province has about 40 million people, I believe, and that relationship was established in 1997. The wisdom and foresight of the people on both sides in establishing that relationship have been borne out by subsequent developments. I attended numerous events, as one tends to do on these visits. Among those, I was part of the opening of the China Australia Bio-therapeutic Summit, with leading scientists from Western Australia, including Dr Fiona Wood, and others, and Chinese scientists, who are looking at ways of collaborating in the area of bio-therapeutics, which is restorative-regenerative medicine of the type that we are familiar with here through Fiona Wood’s spray-on skin innovation. I visited the Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium, at which Western Australia had its own stall. The symposium was of a massive scale. I have been to exhibitions in the Middle East, but this was something else. I am very grateful that the Zhejiang government provided the space for the Western Australian stall for free. I opened Western Australian investment seminars in Hangzhou and Beijing, both of which were attended by a large number of people. I also attended the English language competition award ceremony, an event in which the Minister for Education and Training might like to engage. I went to the first one two years ago in 2005 in which 40 000 students from the Zhejiang province took part. Knowledge of Western Australia is a prerequisite for success in the competition. I guarantee members that some of the questions answered by students could not be answered by several members of Parliament, because their knowledge was so detailed. In 2005, 40 000 students took part in the competition; this year, 160 000 students took part. One does not have to be too imaginative to understand the potential benefit that is being developed for Western Australia. I attended the opening of a new steel mill at Ningbo - I know that you, Mr Speaker, are familiar with the mill - at which Western Australian ore will be milled into steel. I also visited Beijing and Shanghai to attend business events and meetings with high-level senior officials, including Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan. We had a meeting in the Great Hall of the People, which was quite an experience. I met the Party Secretary of Zhejiang, Zhao Hongzhu - he said he was familiar with you, Mr Speaker, and reflected upon your visit to China very affectionately - and the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Xi Jinping. When discussion of the Speaker’s visit arose, I asked whether he had left a favourable impression. There were some glances around the room before all those present nodded in agreement and said that, yes, he did leave an impression - and it was very favourable! Western Australia plays a huge role in China. We are very lucky in that 57 per cent of Australia’s exports to China come from Western Australia. Western Australia is important to China; irrespective of all other things, we are critical to its strategies for the future. Iron ore comprises the vast bulk of that trade, but gas also plays a part. Many other trade opportunities are opening up, including professional services, architectural services and legal advice; a gamut of things are now well and truly entrenched in the relationship between our two communities. We have developed a mutually beneficial relationship. It is of particular benefit to us, however, because the two-way trade between Western Australia and China is in excess of $13 billion, and of that $11 billion represents our exports to China. Members can appreciate the massive benefit that is being accrued by our relationship through a succession of governments that stem back to the Burke era. Richard Court is very highly regarded in China, as is my predecessor, Geoff Gallop. All members of Parliament who have visited China - ministers, backbenchers and members on the other side of the house - have strengthened that relationship. I encourage as many members as possible to take the opportunity to visit China.
I visited the Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium, at which Western Australia had its own stall. The symposium was of a massive scale. I have been to exhibitions in the Middle East, but this was something else. I am very grateful that the Zhejiang government provided the space for the Western Australian stall for free. I opened Western Australian investment seminars in Hangzhou and Beijing, both of which were attended by a large number of people. I also attended the English language competition award ceremony, an event in which the Minister for Education and Training might like to engage. I went to the first one two years ago in 2005 in which 40 000 students from the Zhejiang province took part. Knowledge of Western Australia is a prerequisite for success in the competition. I guarantee members that some of the questions answered by students could not be answered by several members of Parliament, because their knowledge was so detailed. In 2005, 40 000 students took part in the competition; this year, 160 000 students took part. One does not have to be too imaginative to understand the potential benefit that is being developed for Western Australia. I attended the opening of a new steel mill at Ningbo - I know that you, Mr Speaker, are familiar with the mill - at which Western Australian ore will be milled into steel. I also visited Beijing and Shanghai to attend business events and meetings with high-level senior officials, including Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan. We had a meeting in the Great Hall of the People, which was quite an experience. I met the Party Secretary of Zhejiang, Zhao Hongzhu - he said he was familiar with you, Mr Speaker, and reflected upon your visit to China very affectionately - and the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Xi Jinping. When discussion of the Speaker’s visit arose, I asked whether he had left a favourable impression. There were some glances around the room before all those present nodded in agreement and said that, yes, he did leave an impression - and it was very favourable! Western Australia plays a huge role in China. We are very lucky in that 57 per cent of Australia’s exports to China come from Western Australia. Western Australia is important to China; irrespective of all other things, we are critical to its strategies for the future. Iron ore comprises the vast bulk of that trade, but gas also plays a part. Many other trade opportunities are opening up, including professional services, architectural services and legal advice; a gamut of things are now well and truly entrenched in the relationship between our two communities. We have developed a mutually beneficial relationship. It is of particular benefit to us, however, because the two-way trade between Western Australia and China is in excess of $13 billion, and of that $11 billion represents our exports to China. Members can appreciate the massive benefit that is being accrued by our relationship through a succession of governments that stem back to the Burke era. Richard Court is very highly regarded in China, as is my predecessor, Geoff Gallop. All members of Parliament who have visited China - ministers, backbenchers and members on the other side of the house - have strengthened that relationship. I encourage as many members as possible to take the opportunity to visit China.
Western Australia plays a huge role in China. We are very lucky in that 57 per cent of Australia’s exports to China come from Western Australia. Western Australia is important to China; irrespective of all other things, we are critical to its strategies for the future. Iron ore comprises the vast bulk of that trade, but gas also plays a part. Many other trade opportunities are opening up, including professional services, architectural services and legal advice; a gamut of things are now well and truly entrenched in the relationship between our two communities. We have developed a mutually beneficial relationship. It is of particular benefit to us, however, because the two-way trade between Western Australia and China is in excess of $13 billion, and of that $11 billion represents our exports to China. Members can appreciate the massive benefit that is being accrued by our relationship through a succession of governments that stem back to the Burke era. Richard Court is very highly regarded in China, as is my predecessor, Geoff Gallop. All members of Parliament who have visited China - ministers, backbenchers and members on the other side of the house - have strengthened that relationship. I encourage as many members as possible to take the opportunity to visit China.
CHINA VISIT BY PREMIER
Will the Premier describe the success of his recent visit to China? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park very much for the question. Let me say this to all members of the chamber, and all members of this Parliament, including members of the other house: I encourage all members to take the opportunity of visiting China, using the imprest account, if that is the mechanism by which to do it. It is a very worthwhile experience for Western Australian legislators, and people in our position across all parties - Independents as well - to see just what is happening in China, to see the strength of the Chinese economy, and to gain an appreciation of what is likely to happen in China in the next five, 10 and perhaps even 20 years. This was my third visit to China in three years. On each visit, I have been awestruck by the amount of development, growth and change in that society. The timing of my visit on this occasion was principally to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of our sister-state relationship with Zhejiang Province. Zhejiang Province has about 40 million people, I believe, and that relationship was established in 1997. The wisdom and foresight of the people on both sides in establishing that relationship have been borne out by subsequent developments. I attended numerous events, as one tends to do on these visits. Among those, I was part of the opening of the China Australia Bio-therapeutic Summit, with leading scientists from Western Australia, including Dr Fiona Wood, and others, and Chinese scientists, who are looking at ways of collaborating in the area of bio-therapeutics, which is restorative-regenerative medicine of the type that we are familiar with here through Fiona Wood’s spray-on skin innovation. I visited the Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium, at which Western Australia had its own stall. The symposium was of a massive scale. I have been to exhibitions in the Middle East, but this was something else. I am very grateful that the Zhejiang government provided the space for the Western Australian stall for free. I opened Western Australian investment seminars in Hangzhou and Beijing, both of which were attended by a large number of people. I also attended the English language competition award ceremony, an event in which the Minister for Education and Training might like to engage. I went to the first one two years ago in 2005 in which 40 000 students from the Zhejiang province took part. Knowledge of Western Australia is a prerequisite for success in the competition. I guarantee members that some of the questions answered by students could not be answered by several members of Parliament, because their knowledge was so detailed. In 2005, 40 000 students took part in the competition; this year, 160 000 students took part. One does not have to be too imaginative to understand the potential benefit that is being developed for Western Australia. I attended the opening of a new steel mill at Ningbo - I know that you, Mr Speaker, are familiar with the mill - at which Western Australian ore will be milled into steel. I also visited Beijing and Shanghai to attend business events and meetings with high-level senior officials, including Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan. We had a meeting in the Great Hall of the People, which was quite an experience. I met the Party Secretary of Zhejiang, Zhao Hongzhu - he said he was familiar with you, Mr Speaker, and reflected upon your visit to China very affectionately - and the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Xi Jinping. When discussion of the Speaker’s visit arose, I asked whether he had left a favourable impression. There were some glances around the room before all those present nodded in agreement and said that, yes, he did leave an impression - and it was very favourable! Western Australia plays a huge role in China. We are very lucky in that 57 per cent of Australia’s exports to China come from Western Australia. Western Australia is important to China; irrespective of all other things, we are critical to its strategies for the future. Iron ore comprises the vast bulk of that trade, but gas also plays a part. Many other trade opportunities are opening up, including professional services, architectural services and legal advice; a gamut of things are now well and truly entrenched in the relationship between our two communities. We have developed a mutually beneficial relationship. It is of particular benefit to us, however, because the two-way trade between Western Australia and China is in excess of $13 billion, and of that $11 billion represents our exports to China. Members can appreciate the massive benefit that is being accrued by our relationship through a succession of governments that stem back to the Burke era. Richard Court is very highly regarded in China, as is my predecessor, Geoff Gallop. All members of Parliament who have visited China - ministers, backbenchers and members on the other side of the house - have strengthened that relationship. I encourage as many members as possible to take the opportunity to visit China.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Victoria Park very much for the question. Let me say this to all members of the chamber, and all members of this Parliament, including members of the other house: I encourage all members to take the opportunity of visiting China, using the imprest account, if that is the mechanism by which to do it. It is a very worthwhile experience for Western Australian legislators, and people in our position across all parties - Independents as well - to see just what is happening in China, to see the strength of the Chinese economy, and to gain an appreciation of what is likely to happen in China in the next five, 10 and perhaps even 20 years. This was my third visit to China in three years. On each visit, I have been awestruck by the amount of development, growth and change in that society. The timing of my visit on this occasion was principally to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of our sister-state relationship with Zhejiang Province. Zhejiang Province has about 40 million people, I believe, and that relationship was established in 1997. The wisdom and foresight of the people on both sides in establishing that relationship have been borne out by subsequent developments. I attended numerous events, as one tends to do on these visits. Among those, I was part of the opening of the China Australia Bio-therapeutic Summit, with leading scientists from Western Australia, including Dr Fiona Wood, and others, and Chinese scientists, who are looking at ways of collaborating in the area of bio-therapeutics, which is restorative-regenerative medicine of the type that we are familiar with here through Fiona Wood’s spray-on skin innovation. I visited the Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium, at which Western Australia had its own stall. The symposium was of a massive scale. I have been to exhibitions in the Middle East, but this was something else. I am very grateful that the Zhejiang government provided the space for the Western Australian stall for free. I opened Western Australian investment seminars in Hangzhou and Beijing, both of which were attended by a large number of people. I also attended the English language competition award ceremony, an event in which the Minister for Education and Training might like to engage. I went to the first one two years ago in 2005 in which 40 000 students from the Zhejiang province took part. Knowledge of Western Australia is a prerequisite for success in the competition. I guarantee members that some of the questions answered by students could not be answered by several members of Parliament, because their knowledge was so detailed. In 2005, 40 000 students took part in the competition; this year, 160 000 students took part. One does not have to be too imaginative to understand the potential benefit that is being developed for Western Australia. I attended the opening of a new steel mill at Ningbo - I know that you, Mr Speaker, are familiar with the mill - at which Western Australian ore will be milled into steel. I also visited Beijing and Shanghai to attend business events and meetings with high-level senior officials, including Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan. We had a meeting in the Great Hall of the People, which was quite an experience. I met the Party Secretary of Zhejiang, Zhao Hongzhu - he said he was familiar with you, Mr Speaker, and reflected upon your visit to China very affectionately - and the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Xi Jinping. When discussion of the Speaker’s visit arose, I asked whether he had left a favourable impression. There were some glances around the room before all those present nodded in agreement and said that, yes, he did leave an impression - and it was very favourable! Western Australia plays a huge role in China. We are very lucky in that 57 per cent of Australia’s exports to China come from Western Australia. Western Australia is important to China; irrespective of all other things, we are critical to its strategies for the future. Iron ore comprises the vast bulk of that trade, but gas also plays a part. Many other trade opportunities are opening up, including professional services, architectural services and legal advice; a gamut of things are now well and truly entrenched in the relationship between our two communities. We have developed a mutually beneficial relationship. It is of particular benefit to us, however, because the two-way trade between Western Australia and China is in excess of $13 billion, and of that $11 billion represents our exports to China. Members can appreciate the massive benefit that is being accrued by our relationship through a succession of governments that stem back to the Burke era. Richard Court is very highly regarded in China, as is my predecessor, Geoff Gallop. All members of Parliament who have visited China - ministers, backbenchers and members on the other side of the house - have strengthened that relationship. I encourage as many members as possible to take the opportunity to visit China.
I thank the member for Victoria Park very much for the question. Let me say this to all members of the chamber, and all members of this Parliament, including members of the other house: I encourage all members to take the opportunity of visiting China, using the imprest account, if that is the mechanism by which to do it. It is a very worthwhile experience for Western Australian legislators, and people in our position across all parties - Independents as well - to see just what is happening in China, to see the strength of the Chinese economy, and to gain an appreciation of what is likely to happen in China in the next five, 10 and perhaps even 20 years. This was my third visit to China in three years. On each visit, I have been awestruck by the amount of development, growth and change in that society. The timing of my visit on this occasion was principally to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of our sister-state relationship with Zhejiang Province. Zhejiang Province has about 40 million people, I believe, and that relationship was established in 1997. The wisdom and foresight of the people on both sides in establishing that relationship have been borne out by subsequent developments. I attended numerous events, as one tends to do on these visits. Among those, I was part of the opening of the China Australia Bio-therapeutic Summit, with leading scientists from Western Australia, including Dr Fiona Wood, and others, and Chinese scientists, who are looking at ways of collaborating in the area of bio-therapeutics, which is restorative-regenerative medicine of the type that we are familiar with here through Fiona Wood’s spray-on skin innovation. I visited the Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium, at which Western Australia had its own stall. The symposium was of a massive scale. I have been to exhibitions in the Middle East, but this was something else. I am very grateful that the Zhejiang government provided the space for the Western Australian stall for free. I opened Western Australian investment seminars in Hangzhou and Beijing, both of which were attended by a large number of people. I also attended the English language competition award ceremony, an event in which the Minister for Education and Training might like to engage. I went to the first one two years ago in 2005 in which 40 000 students from the Zhejiang province took part. Knowledge of Western Australia is a prerequisite for success in the competition. I guarantee members that some of the questions answered by students could not be answered by several members of Parliament, because their knowledge was so detailed. In 2005, 40 000 students took part in the competition; this year, 160 000 students took part. One does not have to be too imaginative to understand the potential benefit that is being developed for Western Australia. I attended the opening of a new steel mill at Ningbo - I know that you, Mr Speaker, are familiar with the mill - at which Western Australian ore will be milled into steel. I also visited Beijing and Shanghai to attend business events and meetings with high-level senior officials, including Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan. We had a meeting in the Great Hall of the People, which was quite an experience. I met the Party Secretary of Zhejiang, Zhao Hongzhu - he said he was familiar with you, Mr Speaker, and reflected upon your visit to China very affectionately - and the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Xi Jinping. When discussion of the Speaker’s visit arose, I asked whether he had left a favourable impression. There were some glances around the room before all those present nodded in agreement and said that, yes, he did leave an impression - and it was very favourable! Western Australia plays a huge role in China. We are very lucky in that 57 per cent of Australia’s exports to China come from Western Australia. Western Australia is important to China; irrespective of all other things, we are critical to its strategies for the future. Iron ore comprises the vast bulk of that trade, but gas also plays a part. Many other trade opportunities are opening up, including professional services, architectural services and legal advice; a gamut of things are now well and truly entrenched in the relationship between our two communities. We have developed a mutually beneficial relationship. It is of particular benefit to us, however, because the two-way trade between Western Australia and China is in excess of $13 billion, and of that $11 billion represents our exports to China. Members can appreciate the massive benefit that is being accrued by our relationship through a succession of governments that stem back to the Burke era. Richard Court is very highly regarded in China, as is my predecessor, Geoff Gallop. All members of Parliament who have visited China - ministers, backbenchers and members on the other side of the house - have strengthened that relationship. I encourage as many members as possible to take the opportunity to visit China.
I visited the Zhejiang Investment and Trade Symposium, at which Western Australia had its own stall. The symposium was of a massive scale. I have been to exhibitions in the Middle East, but this was something else. I am very grateful that the Zhejiang government provided the space for the Western Australian stall for free. I opened Western Australian investment seminars in Hangzhou and Beijing, both of which were attended by a large number of people. I also attended the English language competition award ceremony, an event in which the Minister for Education and Training might like to engage. I went to the first one two years ago in 2005 in which 40 000 students from the Zhejiang province took part. Knowledge of Western Australia is a prerequisite for success in the competition. I guarantee members that some of the questions answered by students could not be answered by several members of Parliament, because their knowledge was so detailed. In 2005, 40 000 students took part in the competition; this year, 160 000 students took part. One does not have to be too imaginative to understand the potential benefit that is being developed for Western Australia. I attended the opening of a new steel mill at Ningbo - I know that you, Mr Speaker, are familiar with the mill - at which Western Australian ore will be milled into steel. I also visited Beijing and Shanghai to attend business events and meetings with high-level senior officials, including Vice-Premier Zeng Peiyan. We had a meeting in the Great Hall of the People, which was quite an experience. I met the Party Secretary of Zhejiang, Zhao Hongzhu - he said he was familiar with you, Mr Speaker, and reflected upon your visit to China very affectionately - and the Party Secretary of Shanghai, Xi Jinping. When discussion of the Speaker’s visit arose, I asked whether he had left a favourable impression. There were some glances around the room before all those present nodded in agreement and said that, yes, he did leave an impression - and it was very favourable! Western Australia plays a huge role in China. We are very lucky in that 57 per cent of Australia’s exports to China come from Western Australia. Western Australia is important to China; irrespective of all other things, we are critical to its strategies for the future. Iron ore comprises the vast bulk of that trade, but gas also plays a part. Many other trade opportunities are opening up, including professional services, architectural services and legal advice; a gamut of things are now well and truly entrenched in the relationship between our two communities. We have developed a mutually beneficial relationship. It is of particular benefit to us, however, because the two-way trade between Western Australia and China is in excess of $13 billion, and of that $11 billion represents our exports to China. Members can appreciate the massive benefit that is being accrued by our relationship through a succession of governments that stem back to the Burke era. Richard Court is very highly regarded in China, as is my predecessor, Geoff Gallop. All members of Parliament who have visited China - ministers, backbenchers and members on the other side of the house - have strengthened that relationship. I encourage as many members as possible to take the opportunity to visit China.
Western Australia plays a huge role in China. We are very lucky in that 57 per cent of Australia’s exports to China come from Western Australia. Western Australia is important to China; irrespective of all other things, we are critical to its strategies for the future. Iron ore comprises the vast bulk of that trade, but gas also plays a part. Many other trade opportunities are opening up, including professional services, architectural services and legal advice; a gamut of things are now well and truly entrenched in the relationship between our two communities. We have developed a mutually beneficial relationship. It is of particular benefit to us, however, because the two-way trade between Western Australia and China is in excess of $13 billion, and of that $11 billion represents our exports to China. Members can appreciate the massive benefit that is being accrued by our relationship through a succession of governments that stem back to the Burke era. Richard Court is very highly regarded in China, as is my predecessor, Geoff Gallop. All members of Parliament who have visited China - ministers, backbenchers and members on the other side of the house - have strengthened that relationship. I encourage as many members as possible to take the opportunity to visit China.
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