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Victoria state strengthens China ties
By Ted Baillieu |
November 3, 2011, Thursday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
IN today's global economy, the "great transition" is the great fact of our time.
From parity less than a decade ago, the output of emerging market economies has already rocketed to almost 145 percent of the GDP of developed countries, with China leading the way.
This dramatic divergence in growth paths tells the story of hundreds of millions in the developing world lifted from poverty and striving toward prosperity. It makes countries like China ever more important as trade partners. It means economies like Australia and the Australian state of Victoria must change, adapt and build the future in partnership with emerging economic giants.
The interdependence that binds us is not just - or even primarily - about trade. It's about people. Today we build on a legacy of friendship and relationships that goes back more than 150 years.
In the 21st century, nations still come first. But provinces, states and cities can and should do more to build our collective prosperity and to bring our people closer together.
Victoria is well-placed to make a contribution. While Victoria occupies only 3 percent of Australia's landmass, we provide 25 percent of the nation's GDP. Our value is in our ability to foster and harness skills, knowledge and know-how to drive growth.
Innovation and the application of new technologies are central to the Victorian Government's commitment to building a growing and competitive economy. But we also stand ready to learn from, and share our capabilities with, our trading partners.
Fortune magazine's "Global 500" survey recently named Melbourne, Victoria's capital city, one of the "best new cities for business" in the world. And the Economist Intelligence Unit recently declared Melbourne "the most livable city" in the world.
China's plan to become a moderately prosperous society, and ultimately to achieve developed country status, represents a great challenge. But China doesn't face this challenge alone. With existing partnerships in areas like clean energy, biotechnology, food, dairy, education and sustainable urban development, Victoria is a trading partner with the capacity to enable China's next stage of development.
And now, Victoria is renewing its commitment to China. We will soon open a State of Victoria Representative Office in Beijing, which will serve as Victoria's permanent "commercial embassy." This is in addition to our existing offices in Shanghai, Nanjing and Hong Kong.
In 2012, Victoria will be presenting the largest ever trade mission from any Australian state to China.
This is a signal of Victoria's commitment and determination to strengthen our relationship with China, both in terms of representative and institutional links as well as trade and investment.
In September I was in China to reaffirm our friendship and deepen our trade and educational linkages. We are beginning a new school scholarship program that will invite Chinese high school students to take intensive English classes in Victoria.
We're also arranging for Victoria's young professionals to spend six months a year in intensive Chinese language training at a Jiangsu Province university. We will be welcoming China South Rail to its new regional headquarters in Melbourne. We are launching a 10-Year China Tourism Plan to welcome more Chinese visitors to Melbourne and Victoria.
A new Wine Export Strategy will promote Victoria's premium wines in China. And we have welcomed the announcement by Qenos, the plastics maker owned by ChemChina, of a A$2 billion (US$2.08 billion), long-term partnership with ExxonMobil Australia and BHP Billiton to expand its operations in Victoria.
We are also fostering a dialogue on China-Victoria relations including business, experts, expats and Victoria's Chinese alumni, the "New Argonauts" who studied and worked in Victoria and have now returned to China. In Victoria, relationships as important as the ones with our Chinese partners will be nurtured at head-of-government level.
We have in Victoria a long-established and fast-growing Chinese community. Victoria attracts more business migrants from China than any other state. Victoria will continue to renew our engagement with China to enable closer ties, deeper understanding and shared prosperity through the great global transition.
Ted Baillieu is the premier of the Australian state of Victoria, and recently led a state delegation to China. Shanghai Daily condensed the article.
From parity less than a decade ago, the output of emerging market economies has already rocketed to almost 145 percent of the GDP of developed countries, with China leading the way.
This dramatic divergence in growth paths tells the story of hundreds of millions in the developing world lifted from poverty and striving toward prosperity. It makes countries like China ever more important as trade partners. It means economies like Australia and the Australian state of Victoria must change, adapt and build the future in partnership with emerging economic giants.
The interdependence that binds us is not just - or even primarily - about trade. It's about people. Today we build on a legacy of friendship and relationships that goes back more than 150 years.
In the 21st century, nations still come first. But provinces, states and cities can and should do more to build our collective prosperity and to bring our people closer together.
Victoria is well-placed to make a contribution. While Victoria occupies only 3 percent of Australia's landmass, we provide 25 percent of the nation's GDP. Our value is in our ability to foster and harness skills, knowledge and know-how to drive growth.
Innovation and the application of new technologies are central to the Victorian Government's commitment to building a growing and competitive economy. But we also stand ready to learn from, and share our capabilities with, our trading partners.
Fortune magazine's "Global 500" survey recently named Melbourne, Victoria's capital city, one of the "best new cities for business" in the world. And the Economist Intelligence Unit recently declared Melbourne "the most livable city" in the world.
China's plan to become a moderately prosperous society, and ultimately to achieve developed country status, represents a great challenge. But China doesn't face this challenge alone. With existing partnerships in areas like clean energy, biotechnology, food, dairy, education and sustainable urban development, Victoria is a trading partner with the capacity to enable China's next stage of development.
And now, Victoria is renewing its commitment to China. We will soon open a State of Victoria Representative Office in Beijing, which will serve as Victoria's permanent "commercial embassy." This is in addition to our existing offices in Shanghai, Nanjing and Hong Kong.
In 2012, Victoria will be presenting the largest ever trade mission from any Australian state to China.
This is a signal of Victoria's commitment and determination to strengthen our relationship with China, both in terms of representative and institutional links as well as trade and investment.
In September I was in China to reaffirm our friendship and deepen our trade and educational linkages. We are beginning a new school scholarship program that will invite Chinese high school students to take intensive English classes in Victoria.
We're also arranging for Victoria's young professionals to spend six months a year in intensive Chinese language training at a Jiangsu Province university. We will be welcoming China South Rail to its new regional headquarters in Melbourne. We are launching a 10-Year China Tourism Plan to welcome more Chinese visitors to Melbourne and Victoria.
A new Wine Export Strategy will promote Victoria's premium wines in China. And we have welcomed the announcement by Qenos, the plastics maker owned by ChemChina, of a A$2 billion (US$2.08 billion), long-term partnership with ExxonMobil Australia and BHP Billiton to expand its operations in Victoria.
We are also fostering a dialogue on China-Victoria relations including business, experts, expats and Victoria's Chinese alumni, the "New Argonauts" who studied and worked in Victoria and have now returned to China. In Victoria, relationships as important as the ones with our Chinese partners will be nurtured at head-of-government level.
We have in Victoria a long-established and fast-growing Chinese community. Victoria attracts more business migrants from China than any other state. Victoria will continue to renew our engagement with China to enable closer ties, deeper understanding and shared prosperity through the great global transition.
Ted Baillieu is the premier of the Australian state of Victoria, and recently led a state delegation to China. Shanghai Daily condensed the article.
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