❓ The Premier explains how the visit of China's Premier Wen Jiabao highlights the significant and growing trade relationship between Western Australia and China, emphasizing the economic benefits and future opportunities for diversification and growth.
AnsweredQoN 71Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CHINESE PREMIER - VISIT TO WESTERN AUSTRALIA
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge the leaders of the Sikh community of Western Australia who are in the Speaker’s gallery today, enjoying question time. Can the Premier explain how the impending visit of China’s Premier, Wen Jiabao, demonstrates the important relationship Western Australia has with China? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
Before I ask my question, I acknowledge the leaders of the Sikh community of Western Australia who are in the Speaker’s gallery today, enjoying question time. Can the Premier explain how the impending visit of China’s Premier, Wen Jiabao, demonstrates the important relationship Western Australia has with China? Mr A.J. CARPENTER
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Riverton for the question and for his great support of the local community in his electorate and beyond. I also welcome to the Parliament the students from Wellstead and Latham Primary Schools. I hope they enjoy what is about to unfold before their eyes! It is very good for Western Australia that the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, will visit Western Australia on Saturday and Sunday. It is a coup for us, because I do not think his itinerary originally included visiting Western Australia. He was to visit Canberra for a meeting with the Prime Minister, and then travel on from there. I wrote to him earlier and suggested that, if he had the opportunity, we would be very pleased for him to come to Western Australia and to discuss the ever-growing, and ever-increasing in importance, trade relationship between China and Western Australia. As we all know, Western Australia and Western Australians are benefiting tremendously from the trade relationship that has developed between Western Australia and China. That relationship has grown to the point at which China is now our second most important trade partner. I remember when Li Peng came to Western Australia in 1987 to sign the joint venture agreement for the Channar mine. At the time Mr Peter Dowding was the Premier, and I was a journalist covering Li Peng’s visit. There have been huge developments since that time, all of which have been to the benefit of everyone in Western Australia. Our trade relationship with China is in a similar position to that of our trade relationship with Japan in the 1950s and early 1960s. We are moving into a different threshold altogether, and this will be a long-term growth pattern that will deliver great benefits to Western Australia. Last year, Western Australia accounted for 53 per cent of Australia’s exports to China. Indeed, China was our second largest market. Trade between WA and China totalled $9.6 billion, a 67 per cent increase on the previous year’s trade, which is phenomenal. Our exports to China totalled $8.6 billion, an increase of 72 per cent. Western Australia is also the largest exporter of iron ore, wool and grains to China. Iron ore comprises 65 per cent of our exports to China, but the base is diversifying. An article in today’s The Australian contains an at-length interview with Premier Wen Jiabao about the relationship between China and Australia, in which he states that he would like that to develop into a more multifaceted relationship. Those are the sorts of things we can explore during his visit to Australia. Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
Can the Premier explain how the impending visit of China’s Premier, Wen Jiabao, demonstrates the important relationship Western Australia has with China? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Riverton for the question and for his great support of the local community in his electorate and beyond. I also welcome to the Parliament the students from Wellstead and Latham Primary Schools. I hope they enjoy what is about to unfold before their eyes! It is very good for Western Australia that the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, will visit Western Australia on Saturday and Sunday. It is a coup for us, because I do not think his itinerary originally included visiting Western Australia. He was to visit Canberra for a meeting with the Prime Minister, and then travel on from there. I wrote to him earlier and suggested that, if he had the opportunity, we would be very pleased for him to come to Western Australia and to discuss the ever-growing, and ever-increasing in importance, trade relationship between China and Western Australia. As we all know, Western Australia and Western Australians are benefiting tremendously from the trade relationship that has developed between Western Australia and China. That relationship has grown to the point at which China is now our second most important trade partner. I remember when Li Peng came to Western Australia in 1987 to sign the joint venture agreement for the Channar mine. At the time Mr Peter Dowding was the Premier, and I was a journalist covering Li Peng’s visit. There have been huge developments since that time, all of which have been to the benefit of everyone in Western Australia. Our trade relationship with China is in a similar position to that of our trade relationship with Japan in the 1950s and early 1960s. We are moving into a different threshold altogether, and this will be a long-term growth pattern that will deliver great benefits to Western Australia. Last year, Western Australia accounted for 53 per cent of Australia’s exports to China. Indeed, China was our second largest market. Trade between WA and China totalled $9.6 billion, a 67 per cent increase on the previous year’s trade, which is phenomenal. Our exports to China totalled $8.6 billion, an increase of 72 per cent. Western Australia is also the largest exporter of iron ore, wool and grains to China. Iron ore comprises 65 per cent of our exports to China, but the base is diversifying. An article in today’s The Australian contains an at-length interview with Premier Wen Jiabao about the relationship between China and Australia, in which he states that he would like that to develop into a more multifaceted relationship. Those are the sorts of things we can explore during his visit to Australia. Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Riverton for the question and for his great support of the local community in his electorate and beyond. I also welcome to the Parliament the students from Wellstead and Latham Primary Schools. I hope they enjoy what is about to unfold before their eyes! It is very good for Western Australia that the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, will visit Western Australia on Saturday and Sunday. It is a coup for us, because I do not think his itinerary originally included visiting Western Australia. He was to visit Canberra for a meeting with the Prime Minister, and then travel on from there. I wrote to him earlier and suggested that, if he had the opportunity, we would be very pleased for him to come to Western Australia and to discuss the ever-growing, and ever-increasing in importance, trade relationship between China and Western Australia. As we all know, Western Australia and Western Australians are benefiting tremendously from the trade relationship that has developed between Western Australia and China. That relationship has grown to the point at which China is now our second most important trade partner. I remember when Li Peng came to Western Australia in 1987 to sign the joint venture agreement for the Channar mine. At the time Mr Peter Dowding was the Premier, and I was a journalist covering Li Peng’s visit. There have been huge developments since that time, all of which have been to the benefit of everyone in Western Australia. Our trade relationship with China is in a similar position to that of our trade relationship with Japan in the 1950s and early 1960s. We are moving into a different threshold altogether, and this will be a long-term growth pattern that will deliver great benefits to Western Australia. Last year, Western Australia accounted for 53 per cent of Australia’s exports to China. Indeed, China was our second largest market. Trade between WA and China totalled $9.6 billion, a 67 per cent increase on the previous year’s trade, which is phenomenal. Our exports to China totalled $8.6 billion, an increase of 72 per cent. Western Australia is also the largest exporter of iron ore, wool and grains to China. Iron ore comprises 65 per cent of our exports to China, but the base is diversifying. An article in today’s The Australian contains an at-length interview with Premier Wen Jiabao about the relationship between China and Australia, in which he states that he would like that to develop into a more multifaceted relationship. Those are the sorts of things we can explore during his visit to Australia. Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
I thank the member for Riverton for the question and for his great support of the local community in his electorate and beyond. I also welcome to the Parliament the students from Wellstead and Latham Primary Schools. I hope they enjoy what is about to unfold before their eyes! It is very good for Western Australia that the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, will visit Western Australia on Saturday and Sunday. It is a coup for us, because I do not think his itinerary originally included visiting Western Australia. He was to visit Canberra for a meeting with the Prime Minister, and then travel on from there. I wrote to him earlier and suggested that, if he had the opportunity, we would be very pleased for him to come to Western Australia and to discuss the ever-growing, and ever-increasing in importance, trade relationship between China and Western Australia. As we all know, Western Australia and Western Australians are benefiting tremendously from the trade relationship that has developed between Western Australia and China. That relationship has grown to the point at which China is now our second most important trade partner. I remember when Li Peng came to Western Australia in 1987 to sign the joint venture agreement for the Channar mine. At the time Mr Peter Dowding was the Premier, and I was a journalist covering Li Peng’s visit. There have been huge developments since that time, all of which have been to the benefit of everyone in Western Australia. Our trade relationship with China is in a similar position to that of our trade relationship with Japan in the 1950s and early 1960s. We are moving into a different threshold altogether, and this will be a long-term growth pattern that will deliver great benefits to Western Australia. Last year, Western Australia accounted for 53 per cent of Australia’s exports to China. Indeed, China was our second largest market. Trade between WA and China totalled $9.6 billion, a 67 per cent increase on the previous year’s trade, which is phenomenal. Our exports to China totalled $8.6 billion, an increase of 72 per cent. Western Australia is also the largest exporter of iron ore, wool and grains to China. Iron ore comprises 65 per cent of our exports to China, but the base is diversifying. An article in today’s The Australian contains an at-length interview with Premier Wen Jiabao about the relationship between China and Australia, in which he states that he would like that to develop into a more multifaceted relationship. Those are the sorts of things we can explore during his visit to Australia. Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
It is very good for Western Australia that the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, will visit Western Australia on Saturday and Sunday. It is a coup for us, because I do not think his itinerary originally included visiting Western Australia. He was to visit Canberra for a meeting with the Prime Minister, and then travel on from there. I wrote to him earlier and suggested that, if he had the opportunity, we would be very pleased for him to come to Western Australia and to discuss the ever-growing, and ever-increasing in importance, trade relationship between China and Western Australia. As we all know, Western Australia and Western Australians are benefiting tremendously from the trade relationship that has developed between Western Australia and China. That relationship has grown to the point at which China is now our second most important trade partner. I remember when Li Peng came to Western Australia in 1987 to sign the joint venture agreement for the Channar mine. At the time Mr Peter Dowding was the Premier, and I was a journalist covering Li Peng’s visit. There have been huge developments since that time, all of which have been to the benefit of everyone in Western Australia. Our trade relationship with China is in a similar position to that of our trade relationship with Japan in the 1950s and early 1960s. We are moving into a different threshold altogether, and this will be a long-term growth pattern that will deliver great benefits to Western Australia. Last year, Western Australia accounted for 53 per cent of Australia’s exports to China. Indeed, China was our second largest market. Trade between WA and China totalled $9.6 billion, a 67 per cent increase on the previous year’s trade, which is phenomenal. Our exports to China totalled $8.6 billion, an increase of 72 per cent. Western Australia is also the largest exporter of iron ore, wool and grains to China. Iron ore comprises 65 per cent of our exports to China, but the base is diversifying. An article in today’s The Australian contains an at-length interview with Premier Wen Jiabao about the relationship between China and Australia, in which he states that he would like that to develop into a more multifaceted relationship. Those are the sorts of things we can explore during his visit to Australia. Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
As we all know, Western Australia and Western Australians are benefiting tremendously from the trade relationship that has developed between Western Australia and China. That relationship has grown to the point at which China is now our second most important trade partner. I remember when Li Peng came to Western Australia in 1987 to sign the joint venture agreement for the Channar mine. At the time Mr Peter Dowding was the Premier, and I was a journalist covering Li Peng’s visit. There have been huge developments since that time, all of which have been to the benefit of everyone in Western Australia. Our trade relationship with China is in a similar position to that of our trade relationship with Japan in the 1950s and early 1960s. We are moving into a different threshold altogether, and this will be a long-term growth pattern that will deliver great benefits to Western Australia. Last year, Western Australia accounted for 53 per cent of Australia’s exports to China. Indeed, China was our second largest market. Trade between WA and China totalled $9.6 billion, a 67 per cent increase on the previous year’s trade, which is phenomenal. Our exports to China totalled $8.6 billion, an increase of 72 per cent. Western Australia is also the largest exporter of iron ore, wool and grains to China. Iron ore comprises 65 per cent of our exports to China, but the base is diversifying. An article in today’s The Australian contains an at-length interview with Premier Wen Jiabao about the relationship between China and Australia, in which he states that he would like that to develop into a more multifaceted relationship. Those are the sorts of things we can explore during his visit to Australia. Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
Can the Premier explain how the impending visit of China’s Premier, Wen Jiabao, demonstrates the important relationship Western Australia has with China? Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Riverton for the question and for his great support of the local community in his electorate and beyond. I also welcome to the Parliament the students from Wellstead and Latham Primary Schools. I hope they enjoy what is about to unfold before their eyes! It is very good for Western Australia that the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, will visit Western Australia on Saturday and Sunday. It is a coup for us, because I do not think his itinerary originally included visiting Western Australia. He was to visit Canberra for a meeting with the Prime Minister, and then travel on from there. I wrote to him earlier and suggested that, if he had the opportunity, we would be very pleased for him to come to Western Australia and to discuss the ever-growing, and ever-increasing in importance, trade relationship between China and Western Australia. As we all know, Western Australia and Western Australians are benefiting tremendously from the trade relationship that has developed between Western Australia and China. That relationship has grown to the point at which China is now our second most important trade partner. I remember when Li Peng came to Western Australia in 1987 to sign the joint venture agreement for the Channar mine. At the time Mr Peter Dowding was the Premier, and I was a journalist covering Li Peng’s visit. There have been huge developments since that time, all of which have been to the benefit of everyone in Western Australia. Our trade relationship with China is in a similar position to that of our trade relationship with Japan in the 1950s and early 1960s. We are moving into a different threshold altogether, and this will be a long-term growth pattern that will deliver great benefits to Western Australia. Last year, Western Australia accounted for 53 per cent of Australia’s exports to China. Indeed, China was our second largest market. Trade between WA and China totalled $9.6 billion, a 67 per cent increase on the previous year’s trade, which is phenomenal. Our exports to China totalled $8.6 billion, an increase of 72 per cent. Western Australia is also the largest exporter of iron ore, wool and grains to China. Iron ore comprises 65 per cent of our exports to China, but the base is diversifying. An article in today’s The Australian contains an at-length interview with Premier Wen Jiabao about the relationship between China and Australia, in which he states that he would like that to develop into a more multifaceted relationship. Those are the sorts of things we can explore during his visit to Australia. Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
Mr A.J. CARPENTER replied: I thank the member for Riverton for the question and for his great support of the local community in his electorate and beyond. I also welcome to the Parliament the students from Wellstead and Latham Primary Schools. I hope they enjoy what is about to unfold before their eyes! It is very good for Western Australia that the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, will visit Western Australia on Saturday and Sunday. It is a coup for us, because I do not think his itinerary originally included visiting Western Australia. He was to visit Canberra for a meeting with the Prime Minister, and then travel on from there. I wrote to him earlier and suggested that, if he had the opportunity, we would be very pleased for him to come to Western Australia and to discuss the ever-growing, and ever-increasing in importance, trade relationship between China and Western Australia. As we all know, Western Australia and Western Australians are benefiting tremendously from the trade relationship that has developed between Western Australia and China. That relationship has grown to the point at which China is now our second most important trade partner. I remember when Li Peng came to Western Australia in 1987 to sign the joint venture agreement for the Channar mine. At the time Mr Peter Dowding was the Premier, and I was a journalist covering Li Peng’s visit. There have been huge developments since that time, all of which have been to the benefit of everyone in Western Australia. Our trade relationship with China is in a similar position to that of our trade relationship with Japan in the 1950s and early 1960s. We are moving into a different threshold altogether, and this will be a long-term growth pattern that will deliver great benefits to Western Australia. Last year, Western Australia accounted for 53 per cent of Australia’s exports to China. Indeed, China was our second largest market. Trade between WA and China totalled $9.6 billion, a 67 per cent increase on the previous year’s trade, which is phenomenal. Our exports to China totalled $8.6 billion, an increase of 72 per cent. Western Australia is also the largest exporter of iron ore, wool and grains to China. Iron ore comprises 65 per cent of our exports to China, but the base is diversifying. An article in today’s The Australian contains an at-length interview with Premier Wen Jiabao about the relationship between China and Australia, in which he states that he would like that to develop into a more multifaceted relationship. Those are the sorts of things we can explore during his visit to Australia. Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
I thank the member for Riverton for the question and for his great support of the local community in his electorate and beyond. I also welcome to the Parliament the students from Wellstead and Latham Primary Schools. I hope they enjoy what is about to unfold before their eyes! It is very good for Western Australia that the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, will visit Western Australia on Saturday and Sunday. It is a coup for us, because I do not think his itinerary originally included visiting Western Australia. He was to visit Canberra for a meeting with the Prime Minister, and then travel on from there. I wrote to him earlier and suggested that, if he had the opportunity, we would be very pleased for him to come to Western Australia and to discuss the ever-growing, and ever-increasing in importance, trade relationship between China and Western Australia. As we all know, Western Australia and Western Australians are benefiting tremendously from the trade relationship that has developed between Western Australia and China. That relationship has grown to the point at which China is now our second most important trade partner. I remember when Li Peng came to Western Australia in 1987 to sign the joint venture agreement for the Channar mine. At the time Mr Peter Dowding was the Premier, and I was a journalist covering Li Peng’s visit. There have been huge developments since that time, all of which have been to the benefit of everyone in Western Australia. Our trade relationship with China is in a similar position to that of our trade relationship with Japan in the 1950s and early 1960s. We are moving into a different threshold altogether, and this will be a long-term growth pattern that will deliver great benefits to Western Australia. Last year, Western Australia accounted for 53 per cent of Australia’s exports to China. Indeed, China was our second largest market. Trade between WA and China totalled $9.6 billion, a 67 per cent increase on the previous year’s trade, which is phenomenal. Our exports to China totalled $8.6 billion, an increase of 72 per cent. Western Australia is also the largest exporter of iron ore, wool and grains to China. Iron ore comprises 65 per cent of our exports to China, but the base is diversifying. An article in today’s The Australian contains an at-length interview with Premier Wen Jiabao about the relationship between China and Australia, in which he states that he would like that to develop into a more multifaceted relationship. Those are the sorts of things we can explore during his visit to Australia. Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
It is very good for Western Australia that the Premier of China, Wen Jiabao, will visit Western Australia on Saturday and Sunday. It is a coup for us, because I do not think his itinerary originally included visiting Western Australia. He was to visit Canberra for a meeting with the Prime Minister, and then travel on from there. I wrote to him earlier and suggested that, if he had the opportunity, we would be very pleased for him to come to Western Australia and to discuss the ever-growing, and ever-increasing in importance, trade relationship between China and Western Australia. As we all know, Western Australia and Western Australians are benefiting tremendously from the trade relationship that has developed between Western Australia and China. That relationship has grown to the point at which China is now our second most important trade partner. I remember when Li Peng came to Western Australia in 1987 to sign the joint venture agreement for the Channar mine. At the time Mr Peter Dowding was the Premier, and I was a journalist covering Li Peng’s visit. There have been huge developments since that time, all of which have been to the benefit of everyone in Western Australia. Our trade relationship with China is in a similar position to that of our trade relationship with Japan in the 1950s and early 1960s. We are moving into a different threshold altogether, and this will be a long-term growth pattern that will deliver great benefits to Western Australia. Last year, Western Australia accounted for 53 per cent of Australia’s exports to China. Indeed, China was our second largest market. Trade between WA and China totalled $9.6 billion, a 67 per cent increase on the previous year’s trade, which is phenomenal. Our exports to China totalled $8.6 billion, an increase of 72 per cent. Western Australia is also the largest exporter of iron ore, wool and grains to China. Iron ore comprises 65 per cent of our exports to China, but the base is diversifying. An article in today’s The Australian contains an at-length interview with Premier Wen Jiabao about the relationship between China and Australia, in which he states that he would like that to develop into a more multifaceted relationship. Those are the sorts of things we can explore during his visit to Australia. Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
As we all know, Western Australia and Western Australians are benefiting tremendously from the trade relationship that has developed between Western Australia and China. That relationship has grown to the point at which China is now our second most important trade partner. I remember when Li Peng came to Western Australia in 1987 to sign the joint venture agreement for the Channar mine. At the time Mr Peter Dowding was the Premier, and I was a journalist covering Li Peng’s visit. There have been huge developments since that time, all of which have been to the benefit of everyone in Western Australia. Our trade relationship with China is in a similar position to that of our trade relationship with Japan in the 1950s and early 1960s. We are moving into a different threshold altogether, and this will be a long-term growth pattern that will deliver great benefits to Western Australia. Last year, Western Australia accounted for 53 per cent of Australia’s exports to China. Indeed, China was our second largest market. Trade between WA and China totalled $9.6 billion, a 67 per cent increase on the previous year’s trade, which is phenomenal. Our exports to China totalled $8.6 billion, an increase of 72 per cent. Western Australia is also the largest exporter of iron ore, wool and grains to China. Iron ore comprises 65 per cent of our exports to China, but the base is diversifying. An article in today’s The Australian contains an at-length interview with Premier Wen Jiabao about the relationship between China and Australia, in which he states that he would like that to develop into a more multifaceted relationship. Those are the sorts of things we can explore during his visit to Australia. Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
Iron ore is Western Australia’s major export, but on Sunday we will no doubt have the opportunity to discuss our first shipment of liquefied natural gas, which is due to be sent to the Guangdong province from the North West Shelf - which is in your electorate, Mr Speaker - later this year. That will be a major milestone for your electorate, Mr Speaker. It will move the LNG trade onto a different plateau. I will be raising the potential of increasing our trade in tourism, culture, education, services and new technologies. There is a vast range of opportunities for Western Australia. The visit to Western Australia by a person with the status of the Premier of China is a great opportunity. I am sure that his brief visit will result in an improved relationship with the state. He will be given the opportunity to speak with our business and trade leaders and visit various sites around the metropolitan area. The relationship between Western Australia and China will be the stronger for it.
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