Queensland - Shanghai Sister State Luncheon

Mr Hua Yuan, Vice Mayor of Shanghai; Mr John Williams, Consul-General of Australia in Shanghai; Mr Daniel Gschwind, Chair of Trade and Investment Queensland; Mr Rhett Miller, Queensland Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner; Officials of the Shanghai Municipal Government, Departments and Agencies; Ladies and gentlemen.

Dajia hao.

My sincere thanks to Vice Mayor Mr Hua for co-hosting today’s anniversary lunch with me.

I’m deeply honoured to be here today to celebrate the 35^th anniversary of the Queensland-Shanghai Sister State relationship.

This isn’t my first visit to Shanghai. I have very fond memories of my visit in my role as Queensland’s Chief Health Officer in 2019.

This morning, I met with His Excellency Gong Zheng, the Mayor of Shanghai and his representatives.

We spoke of the special relationship that Queensland and Shanghai share.

An impressive and enduring relationship that has continued for 35 years.

In 1989, when the then Queensland Premier, Mike Ahern, and then Mayor of Shanghai, and later Premier of China, Zhu Rongii signed our Sister-State Memorandum of Understanding, few could have foreseen the enormous benefits that would flow from that Agreement.

The original scope of our landmark Sister-State relationship with Shanghai has expanded greatly throughout the years.

Our bonds now encapsulate flourishing trade, investment, education, tourism, and cultural exchanges.

In fact, this relationship has significantly contributed to China becoming Queensland’s largest trading partner, with 2023 exports valued at some $24 billion Australian dollars.

China is also Queensland’s largest source of international students, and we continue to welcome all who pursue their education and training in Australia’s Sunshine State.

Last November, our then Premier of Queensland, travelled to Shanghai for the world’s largest trade show – the China International Import Expo.

On this visit, the Premier brought with her the largest trade delegation in our state’s history. The agreements signed at that Expo totalled 45 million Australian dollars.

Queensland exporters are today still progressing many great outcomes and celebrating many valuable and enduring new connections from the Expo.

I want to congratulate Shanghai for hosting such an extraordinary event.

It takes a great city to deliver an event of this scale and Queensland eagerly anticipates the next CIIE in November this year.

Our relationship with China, especially Shanghai, is solid and strong.

And Queensland is committed to strengthening our relationships here.

Our hope is to continue to develop further trade and investment opportunities between us.
We were thrilled to hear that in October 2023 China Eastern Airlines resumed direct flights between Shanghai and Brisbane after a three-year absence.

These flights will play a positive, and crucial role in our trade and investment future.

I appreciate you joining us today and thank you for your support and contributions to the Queensland and Shanghai relationship.

The Queensland Government’s global business agency, Trade and Investment Queensland has broad representation in China.

Led by Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner, Rhett Miller who is based in Shanghai, the agency also has offices in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Hong Kong.

Rhett is here today, and he and his team are at your service and committed to advancing opportunities between us.

Thank you for being such welcoming and gracious hosts.

May the relationship between Queensland and Shanghai grow and prosper.