Opinion editorial: Minister for Trade and Investment Nick Champion

South Australian mission to China helps renew and expand economic cooperation

Nick Champion, Minister for Trade and Investment, South Australian Government

South Australia's Premier, the Hon Peter Malinauskas MP, visited China in September, leading a delegation of CEOs to renew their long-standing friendships and business relationships.

This delegation included leaders from South Australia's university and education sector, as well as some of our most prominent food, wine, agriculture and aquaculture exporters.

It was a highly productive mission and signified the importance of South Australia’s strong and enduring cultural links with China.

What's more, the program further highlighted the vast potential to build on our economic relationship with South Australia's largest trading partner.

Only weeks after this visit, it's already clear there's renewed enthusiasm for collaboration across a range of sectors.

Late last month, we were encouraged by China's agreement to review tariffs on Australian wine. We look forward with optimism to further strengthening two-way trade, investment and research partnerships in the wine sector.

It has also been pleasing to see our Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, as well as both South Australian and Chinese representatives making further plans to connect in-person this year.

Many of the South Australian food, wine and agribusiness companies at the CIIE have been encouraged by their positive involvement in Premier Malinauskas' September visit.

South Australia's 37-year Sister-State Relationship with Shandong province is also driving renewed engagement.

It's our most active and long-standing Sister-State Relationship – equally valued in South Australia and China.

So, it's very encouraging that there are plans for Shandong delegations to visit South Australia this year, with a focus on urban renewal, our regulatory environment and elements of our agriculture sector.

This is also supported by Shandong government officials who are planning to visit South Australia in mid-December, further strengthening our connection.

We’re also looking forward to welcoming delegations from across China. For example, around 80 delegates from Southern China are planning a visit to South Australia later this year, to learn more about our tourism sector and potential investment opportunities.

The Shanxi Foreign Affairs Office and Shanxi universities have also travelled to our State, to meet with the South Australian Department for Trade and Investment (DTI) and the University of Adelaide to discuss future collaboration.

It’s clear South Australia's ties with China span many industries. What’s been critical in building and maintaining these relationships is people-to-people connections. It’s encouraging to see these friendships being renewed and expanded.

This is what opens the door to many more mutually beneficial economic relationships that stand to meet the needs of China's population, while also creating jobs and supporting industries in South Australia.

The footbridge to South Australia's iconic sporting venue, Adelaide Oval at night

While South Australia has a diverse economy and trading partners, China remains a key partner – as our largest trading partner – and we know our growth industries align with China’s needs.

Our State is providing high-quality inputs that drive industrial growth in China, exporting products like iron ore and concentrates, refined copper and petroleum products.  

We're also exporting world-class food and agricultural products – including wheat, barley, seafood, almonds, mutton, dairy products and premium packaged foods – to meet consumer demand in China, cultivated using safe, sustainable production techniques.

But we have much more to offer, with globally-renowned premium food and wine products – including beef and livestock, wine, horticulture and a greater range of seafood produce.

We know there's great interest in our agricultural products and food and wine in China and we look forward to an easing of trade impediments that could see more of our world-class produce on the market again soon.

The footbridge to South Australia’s iconic sporting venue, Adelaide Oval during the day

Another interest South Australia shares with China is our work to reduce carbon emissions. South Australia is at the vanguard of the global energy transition, having transformed our energy system from 1% to more than 70% renewable energy in just over 20 years. 

So, with our once-in-a-generation investment in hydrogen, South Australia has immense offerings for Chinese customers, who can see that we are decarbonising our supply chains, offering Chinese consumers cleaner and greener products.

But China is more than just an export market to South Australia. We import products from China too, including vital products for our agricultural sector – such as fertiliser and advanced manufactured goods.

Prior to 2019, China was South Australia's largest source of international visitors, with the value of China's inbound tourism market to South Australia tripling between 2013 and 2019 (hitting $384 million in 2019).

While we've seen more Chinese tourists return to South Australia recently, we look forward to welcoming many more visitors who we know are drawn to our unique natural tourism, wildlife and quality food and wine experiences. 

What's more, China is also one of our leading source markets for international students, with more than 8,700 Chinese students enrolled at South Australian institutions between January to July 2023.  

We're making a major investment to grow this market, with plans to create a new globally competitive university for the future, Adelaide University.

It will have the largest cohort of domestic students of any university in Australia when it opens in 2026, and an aim to be sustainably positioned in the top 100. 

We want to welcome more Chinese students, whose role in developing people-to-people links between cultures is something we greatly value, going well beyond the moment students graduate.

So, this is why South Australia is incredibly grateful for the warm reception our delegation received in China recently.

I hope to visit China myself next year, to help maintain the engagement arising from our recent visit. South Australia wants this to continue, and we look forward to seeing how our cooperation can deliver benefits to people in China and South Australia alike.