Report to Parliament

Report to Parliament

Trade Mission to China

14 – 20 April 2013

The Honourable Ian Walker MP

Minister for the Department of Science, Information Technology,

Innovation and the Arts

Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts

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Table of contents

Foreword ....................................................................................................................................... 3

Program ......................................................................................................................................... 4

Why this market? China ............................................................................................................ 11

Official Delegation Members ...................................................................................................... 12

Business Delegation Members – China .................................................................................... 12

Meetings ...................................................................................................................................... 14

In-Country Delegate Briefing by Mr Zijian Zhang - Trade and Investment Queensland

Commissioner, China 14

Workshop Summary 16

Lunch meeting with Professor Ruiming Xu, Director-General, Bureau of Life Sciences

and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) 17

Meeting with Ms Lucy Niu, Secretary General, China National Committee for Pacific

Economic Cooperation 20

Meeting with Mr Zhi Feng Dong, Deputy Director-General, China National Centre for

Biotechnology Development, Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) 21

Meeting with Mr Minqi Xu, President and Art Director of Guangzhou Opera House

followed by site tour 22

Media coverage ........................................................................................................................... 23

Report to Parliament – Trade Mission to China

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Foreword

Foreign investment is vitally important to stimulate economic growth and increase employment that Queensland needs to strengthen the development of its key industries.

China is a major investor in our state and a major trading partner, and Queensland presents a very attractive investment destination. Two of our four economic pillars – tourism and construction – go hand-in-hand. I was invited by the Treasurer to lead this mission to China, organised by Trade and Investment Queensland, to promote a new round of opportunities for these important Queensland industries.

I led a mission of 44 delegates representing 26 Queensland companies, as well as mayors, councillors and representatives from the Sunshine Coast, Logan, Cairns and the Gold Coast. These companies offered a range of attractive investment opportunities ranging from tourism facilities to commercial property development which are being undertaken from North to South East Queensland.

As a government we are doing everything we can to facilitate and to encourage investment; we are cutting regulatory red tape and creating an investment friendly environment. We are also out there capturing growth opportunities for these industries, and building them for the future.

Australia has a very positive image in China as a great place to do business and this mission reinforced Queensland’s credentials in this important world region, paving the way for the next round of great opportunities in our tourism and construction industries.

This was a very successful mission. We promoted the great investment opportunities our state has to offer and the investors we met with are very impressed and excited by what we have.

The Honourable Ian Walker MP

Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts


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Program

The Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, the Honourable Ian Walker, MP Trade Mission to China

14 – 20 April 2013

MISSION OUTLINE

Time in bold indicates local time Time in normal font indicates Brisbane time

Hong Kong 2 hours behind Brisbane

Beijing 2 hours behind Brisbane

Guangzhou 2 hours behind Brisbane

Foshan 2 hours behind Brisbane

Shenzhen 2 hours behind Brisbane

Sunday 14 April 2013 – Beijing

10:20am Depart Brisbane International Airport for Hong Kong

Qantas Airlines Flight 97

Travel time: 9 h 5 m

5:25pm

7:25pm

Arrive Hong Kong

7:00pm

9:00pm

Depart Hong Kong for Beijing

Dragon Air Flight 906


10:30pm

12:30am

Arrive Beijing

Met on arrival by Mr Zijian Zhang, Trade and Investment

Queensland Commissioner - China

Transfer to hotel

Overnight The St Regis Beijing

21 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Beijing

Tel: +86 10 6460 6688

Fax: +86 10 6460 3299


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Monday 15 April 2013 – Beijing 8:00am – 8:30am

10:00am – 10:30am

Private Breakfast Briefing with Mr Zijian Zhang Trade

and Investment Queensland Commissioner - China

8:30am – 10:00am

10:30am – 12:00noon

In-Country Delegate Briefing by Mr Zijian Zhang Trade

and Investment Queensland Commissioner - China

Agenda

8:30am-9:00am

Mr Zijian Zhang Trade and Investment Queensland

Commissioner - China, welcomes all, and introduces the

Minister to the mission members.

Minister welcomes and addresses Mission members.

All mission members make short self-introductions.

9:00am-9:30am

Mr Zijian Zhang, Trade and Investment Queensland

Commissioner - China, makes a briefing on the China Market,

and on the mission program.

9:30am-9:40am

Informal Briefing to mission members on Australia-China

Economic & Trade Relationship by:

Lachlan Crews, Counselor (Economic), Australian Embassy

Beijing

9:40am-10:00am

Q & A

Venue: Great Hall 1 & 2, Level 2

The St Regis Beijing

10:00am – 10:45am

12:00noon – 12:45pm

Liaison Time

Travel to next event

Travel Time: 30 m

11:30am – 1:00pm

1:30pm – 3:00pm

Lunch meeting with Professor Ruiming Xu, Director-

General, Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology,

Chinese Academy of Science (CAS)

Venue: Room 235, CAS Headquarters,

No. 52 Sanlihe Road, Xicheng District,

Beijing 100864, China.

Return to Hotel

Travel Time: 30 m


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1:40pm – 2:00pm

3:40pm – 4:00pm

Meeting with Professor Meisheng Nie, President of China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce (CRECCS) and Mr Zhifeng Liu, President of China Real Estate Association

2:00pm – 6:30pm

4:00pm – 8:30pm

Queensland Investment Attraction Workshop hosted

by the Minister

Minister to deliver a key note speech to Chinese investors,

promoting Queensland as an attractive investment destination

across a range of sectors.

Agenda

1:30pm-2:00pm Guests arrive and register

2:00pm-5:00pm Formal session

5:00pm-6:30pm Networking (food and beverage served)

Focus: Target potential Chinese investors interested in tourism

infrastructure and property development.

Venue: Great Hall 1-3, Level 2,

The St Regis Beijing

6:30pm-7.00pm

8:30pm – 9:00pm

Meeting with Ms Lucy Niu, Secretary General, China

National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation

Evening Liaison Time/Own Arrangements

Overnight The St Regis Beijing

21 Jianguomenwai Avenue, Beijing

Tel: +86 10 6460 6688

Fax: +86 10 6460 3299

Tuesday 16 April 2013 – Beijing/Guangzhou/Foshan 9:00am – 10:00am

11:00am – 12:00noon

Meeting with Mr Zhi Feng Dong, Deputy Director-

General, China National Centre for Biotechnology

Development, Ministry of Science and Technology

(MOST)

Venue: MOST, 15 B,

Fuxing Road, Beijing

10:00am – 11:30am

12:00noon – 1:30pm

Liaison time

11:30am

1:30pm

Hotel check out and depart for airport

Travel time: 45 m


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2:00pm – 4:50pm

4:00pm – 6:50pm

Depart Beijing for Guangzhou

Air China Flight CA1327


pm Transfer to hotel

(bus)

Travel time: 60 m

6:00pm

8:00pm

Hotel check in

Evening Liaison Time/Own Arrangements

Overnight Intercontinental Foshan

No. 20 Denghu East Road, Nanhai District, Foshan, Guangdong

Tel: +86 0 757 8626 8888

Fax: +86 0 757 8626 8998

Wednesday 17 April 2013 – Foshan/Guangzhou/Foshan 9:00am – 12:05pm

11:00am – 2:05pm

Queensland Investment Attraction Workshop Hosted

by the Minister




This workshop is organised in conjunction with the Bureau of

Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation of Foshan – BOFTEC

Focus: Target potential Chinese investors interested in

tourism infrastructure and property development.

Venue: Ballroom B, Level 2,

Intercontinental Foshan

12:05pm – 1:30pm

2:05pm – 3:30pm

Networking Business Luncheon with Workshop

Guests hosted by the Minister

Minister to promote Queensland as an attractive investment

destination across a range of sectors.

Venue: Meeting Rooms 1-3, Level 2,


Afternoon Liaison Time

Evening Informal Dinner with Delegates

Venue: Intercontinental Foshan


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Overnight Accommodation


No. 20 Denghu East Road, Nanhai District, Foshan,

Guangdong

Tel: +86 0 757 8626 8888

Fax: +86 0 757 8626 8998

Thursday 18 April 2013 – Foshan/Guangzhou/Shenzhen 8:00am

10:00am

Check-out and depart for Investment Attraction Seminar

Hired Coach arranged by Trade and Investment – China

Travel time: 40 mins

9:00am – 12:05pm

11:00am – 2:05pm

Queensland Investment Attraction Seminar hosted

by the Minister





tourism infrastructure and property development. Further

details about investors will be provided in market.

Venue: Athens Conference Room

Yihe Hotel

12:05pm – 1:30pm

2:05pm – 3:30pm



Minister will promote Queensland as an attractive investment

destination across a range of sectors.

Venue: Western Restaurant

Yihe Hotel

1:45pm

3:45pm

Depart for Guangzhou Opera House

Travel time: 45 m

2:30pm – 4:00pm

4:30pm – 6:00pm

Meeting with Mr Xu, President & Art Director of

Guangzhou Opera House followed by site tour

Venue: No. 1 Zhujiang Xi Road

Zhujiang Xincheng, Tianhe District

Guangzhou

4:00pm

6:00pm

Depart for Shenzhen

Travel time: 2 h

6:00pm Hotel check-in and liaison time


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Overnight Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen

Hai De San Dao, Hou Hai Bin Road,

Nanshan District, Shenzhen 518054 China

Tel: +86 755 8888 8888

Fax: + 86 755 8612 3999

Friday 19 April 2013 – Shenzhen/Hong Kong

9:00am – 12:05pm

11:00am – 2:05pm

Queensland Investment Attraction Workshop hosted

by the Minister



across a range of sectors. This meeting is organised in

conjunction with Shenzhen Bay Marina Club.


tourism infrastructure and property development.


Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen

12:05pm – 1:30pm

2:05pm – 3:30pm



The Minister will promote Queensland as an attractive

investment destination across a range of sectors.


Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen

pm

Depart Shenzhen for Hong Kong Travel time: 1 h 30 m – 2 h 30 m (depending on border control waiting time)

pm Arrive Hong Kong

Met on arrival at hotel by Ms Angela To, Trade and Investment Queensland Commissioner Hong Kong. Local briefing by Ms To.

Overnight Island Shangri-La Hong Kong

Pacific Place, Supreme Court Road

Central Hong Kong

Tel: +852 2877 3838


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Saturday 20 April 2013 – Hong Kong/Chicago

7:00am

9:00am

Depart for Airport

Travel time: 45 m

10:35am

12:35pm

Depart Hong Kong for Tokyo

American Airlines Flight 6116


3:55pm

5:55pm

Arrive Tokyo

6:15pm

8:15pm

Depart Tokyo for Chicago

American Airlines flight 154


4:05pm

7:05am (Sunday)

Arrive Chicago

pm

Transfer to hotel

Evening

Hotel check-in and liaison time

Sunday 21 April 2013 – Chicago

am/pm Commence BIO program


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Why this market? China

China is a key long term priority trade and investment partner of Queensland.

China is Queensland’s second largest merchandise goods trade partner, valued, in 2011-12, at $12.9 billion. China is Queensland’s largest international education and training market and second largest international tourism source market.

The Chinese economy is expected to overtake the US as the world’s largest by 2016.

A very large population, fast growing income levels and a growing demand for global goods and services is driving a large range of opportunities for Queensland companies in such export areas as mining, agriculture, technology and tourism related products and services.

The property market in China is facing tighter control from the Central Government to prevent it from overheating. Chinese investors have shown investment interest in overseas countries like Australia, which offer a stable economy and growth. Queensland offers investment opportunities that meet the Chinese interest in tourism facilities, hotels and resorts and residential and commercial development.

China's urbanisation process will also provide significant opportunities for businesses including architectural design, clean-tech and water management products and services . Demand for environmental remediation services and energy efficient technologies will increase as China looks to enhance its sustainable growth.

Consumption of agricultural and food products and agribusiness services will continue to rise as China's new middle class demands a more nutritious diet, including meat, seafood, gluten free grain products, packaged and processed foods.

The rising discretionary incomes of Chinese people will see growing consumption of health and related services as the expanding Chinese middle class demands more access to health and medical procedures and as the population begins to age.

The recent introduction of the Significant Investor Visa by the Federal Government has generated a lot of interest in China and Queensland can be positioned as an attractive location.


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Official Delegation Members

The Honourable Ian Walker MP Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts Ms Diane Balke Chief of Staff

Trade and Investment Queensland Representatives

In-Market

Mr Zijian Zhang Trade and Investment Queensland Commissioner | China

Business Delegation Members – China

Cr Mark Jamieson Mayor | Sunshine Coast Regional Council

Mr Craig Matheson Manager Economic Development | Sunshine Coast Regional Council

Mr Ian Williams Communication Strategist | Sunshine Coast Regional Council

Cr Terry James Deputy Mayor | Cairns Regional Council

Cr Russell Lutton Deputy Mayor | Logan City Council

Mr Todd Rohl Deputy Chief Executive Officer | Logan City Council

Mrs Jenni Kang-Stahmer Business Development Executive – International Relations | Logan City Council

Ms Emma Wallace Business & Investment Attraction Officer for the CEO | Gold Coast City Council

Hon. Jim Elder Executive Chairman | Enhance Group

Mr Miguel Chiu Managing Director & President | All Sun Group

Mr YUE Da Assistant to the Board | Australian Multicultural Tourism Village

Mr Yuanfeng Qin Project Manager | Australian Multicultural Tourism Village

Mr Darrell Irwin Director - Special Projects | Colliers International

Mr Stephen Diamond Managing Director | Diamond Solicitors

Mr Rod Lamb Director | Ella Bay

Mr Paul Freebody Chief Executive Officer | Adventure Waters Water Park

Ms Yin (Jane) Assistant to Chief Executive Officer | Frog Global

Mr Keliang (Kelvin) Head of Venture Capital | Frog Global

Mr Nicholas Oettinger Chief Executive Officer | Frog Global

Mr Joseph Marinov Chief Executive Officer | Hills Education Foundation

Mrs Julianne Cusumano Director | JVPLAY Global


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Mr Edward Dawson-Damer Sole Director | Keswick Developments

Ms Lynn Hu Partner / Lawyer | McKelvey & Hu Lawyers

Mr Jeffrey Yang Lawyer | McKelvey & Hu Lawyers

Mr William McVay Associate Partner | McVay Real Estate

Mr Marcus Ng MNG Investment Holdings

Ms Wendy Bradley Owner | Ozone Whitsundays

Mr Chris Coulter Director, DC Capital Advisors | Ozone Whitsundays

Mr Roy Henzell Director | Pelican Waters

Mr Garry Waters Managing Director | Pelican Waters

Mr Tony Bargwanna Managing Director - Ray White Hotels | Raywhite Hotels Australia (Divisions of the Ray White Surfers Paradise Group)

Mr Julian Sutherland Director - Ray White New Projects | Raywhite Hotels Australia (Divisions of the Ray White Surfers Paradise Group)

Mr Mat Foley Asian Business Development Manager | RE/MAX Real Estate Services

Mr Rob Gowland Director | RGD Property Group Pty Ltd

Mr Ron Grabbe Founding Director | RGD Property Group Pty Ltd

Mr Roland Evans Director - Commercial Real Estate | Division Savills Gold Coast

Mr Philip Cea Chairman | The Pacific International Group

Mr Darwin King Managing Director | The Pacific International Group

Miss Julia Uy Creative Director | The Pacific International Group

Mr Trenton Clark Director | Valesco Capital

Mr Mick Mullins Director | Valesco Capital


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Meetings

In-Country Delegate Briefing by Mr Zijian Zhang - Trade and Investment

Queensland Commissioner, China

Date: Monday 15 April 2013

Time: 8.30am – 10.00am

Venue: Great Hall 1 & 2, Level 2, The St Regis Beijing

MATTERS DISCUSSED:

The Trade Mission to China began with an in-country delegate briefing.

Mr Zijian Zhang and Minister Ian Walker welcomed everyone, and all mission members made short self-introductions.

Mr Zijian Zhang gave a briefing on the China Market and on the mission program.

Lachlan Crews, Counselor (Economic) from the Australian Embassy in Beijing also gave

the mission members a briefing on the local market.

Minister Ian Walker with Cr Russell Lutton, Deputy Mayor and Todd Rohl, Deputy CEO of Logan City Council


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Queensland Investment Attraction Workshops and Luncheons hosted

by the Minister

BEIJING WORKSHOP Date: Monday 15 April 2013 Time: 2:00pm – 6:30pm Venue: Great Hall 1-3, Level 2, The St Regis Beijing Attendees: 144 participants (including mission members)

FOSHAN WORKSHOP Date: Wednesday 17 April 2013 Time: 9:00am – 12:05pm Venue: Ballroom B, Level 2, Intercontinental Foshan

Attendees: 79 participants (including mission members)

FOSHAN LUNCHEON Date: Wednesday 17 April 2013 Time: 12:05pm – 1:30pm Venue: Meeting Rooms 1-3, Level 2, Intercontinental Foshan GUANGZHOU WORKSHOP Date: Thursday 18 April 2013 Time: 9:00am – 12:05pm Venue: Athens Conference Room, Yihe Hotel Attendees: 84 participants (including mission members)

GUANGZHOU LUNCHEON Date: Thursday 18 April 2013 Time: 12:05pm – 1:30pm Venue: Western Restaurant, Yihe Hotel SHENZHEN WORKSHOP Date: Friday 19 April 2013 Time: 9:00am – 12:05pm Venue: Ballroom B, Level 3, Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen Attendees: 70 participants (including mission members)

SHENZHEN LUNCHEON Date: Friday 19 April 2013 Time: 12:05pm – 1:30pm Venue: Ballroom B, Level 3, Kempinski Hotel Shenzhen

Minister Ian Walker addressing key Chinese investors at the workshop in Beijing.


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Workshop Summary

This was Trade and Investment Queensland’s (TIQ) inaugural Investment Attraction Mission to Mainland China and Hong Kong to attract investment into tourism infrastructure, hotels and resorts, and residential and commercial development. The aim was to encourage investors to visit, inspect, evaluate and ultimately choose Queensland as a preferred investment destination.

There is strong interest in China on the new Significant Investor Visa introduced by the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Citizenship in November 2012, as part of the Business Innovation and Investment Program. Nomination for this visa will be considered by the Queensland Government for high net-worth individuals who wish to invest and live in Queensland.

Members of my Mission included the local government representatives of Cr Mark Jamieson, Mayor of Sunshine Coast Council, Cr Russell Lutton, Deputy Mayor of Logan City Council, Cr Terry James, Deputy Mayor of Cairns Regional Council and Ms Emma Wallace, Gold Coast Council representative, Business Investment Attraction Officer.

The key audience at the Queensland Investment Attraction Workshop in Beijing were members of the China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce (CRECC) in Beijing. The Honorary President of CRECC recently led a 10 member delegation to Queensland in March 2013. They visited several investment opportunities in Brisbane, Logan, Gold Coast, Cairns and the Whitsunday regions. The group also visited Sydney and Melbourne.

The Queensland Investment Attraction Workshop in Foshan was organised in conjunction with The Bureau of Foreign Trade & Economic Cooperation of Foshan City, the Foshan Federation of Industry & Commerce and the Foshan Association for the Development and Promotion of Small & Middle Size Enterprises. Foshan City have had a sister city agreement with Townsville since 2006.

The Queensland Investment Attraction Workshop in Guangzhou was organised in conjunction with Guangdong Federation of Industry & Commerce, Guangzhou Entrepreneurs Association and Yi He Group.

The Queensland Investment Attraction Workshop in Shenzhen was organised in conjunction with Shenzhen Bay Marina Club.

Note: Following the key speakers, companies were given time to outline their proposal to the guests. The Mayors presented at the workshop in Beijing, and in other centres their presentations occurred during the lunch events. At each workshop and lunch event, the Minister made a speech.

Simultaneous interpretation was used in the Beijing Investment Attraction Workshop and consecutive interpretation was used for the Foshan, Guangzhou and Shenzhen workshops.


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Lunch meeting with Professor Ruiming Xu, Director-General, Bureau of

Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Chinese Academy of Science (CAS)


Time: 11.30am – 1.00pm

Venue: Room 235, CAS Headquarters, No. 52 Sanlihe Road,

Xicheng District, Beijing 100864, China

Attendees:

Professor Ruiming Xu | Director-General, Bureau of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, CAS

Professor Jinghua Cao | Deputy Director-General, Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS

Mr Hui Sun | Deputy Director, Office of American & Oceanian Affairs, Bureau of International

Cooperation, CAS

Professor Rongqiao He | Recipient of Q-CAS project funding, research partner of Prof. Perry

Bartlett, Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland

Mr Bolun Ning | Program Officer, Office of American & Oceanian Affairs, Bureau of International

Cooperation, CAS Institute of Biophysics

MATTERS DISCUSSED:

I was able to confirm the Queensland Government’s interest in continuing to work with the Chinese Academy of Science (CAS) to strengthen scientific and technological collaboration including research and commercialisation opportunities in life sciences, wider medical research and energy.

I confirmed that Queensland wishes to begin formal discussions to renew the strategic

agreement (Statement of Intent) between Queensland and CAS on scientific and

technological collaboration; building on the outcomes from the current relationship. The

CAS is keen to renew the strategic agreement and we are pleased to be the first State

Government to sign such an agreement.

I invited CAS to send a life sciences delegation to Australia’s national biotechnology

conference, this year being held in Brisbane from 29 October to 1 November 2013. Note

that in 2014 the national conference returns to Queensland’s Gold Coast (28 to 31

October). This will provide us an opportunity to demonstrate the State’s global role in

biotechnology.

Should CAS send a science/biotechnology delegation to Queensland to coincide with the

AusBiotech conference, my Department will work closely with Queensland’s life sciences

industry to develop a tailored program that showcases the State’s capabilities and identifies

potential areas of future collaboration.

Professor Rongqiao He discussed the collaboration project he is working on between the

Queensland Brain Institute and the China Institute of Physics.


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Note: Queensland has established a strong science partnership with China to assist in building a knowledge economy underpinned by science and innovation; better commercialisation of Queensland science outcomes; and promoting an exchange of knowledge and expertise between science communities and strengthening links between international research institutions.

(L-R) - Mr Hui Sun (Deputy Director, Office of American & Oceanian Affairs, Bureau of International

Cooperation, CAS); Mr Yong Huang (Director - Business Development, Trade & Investment QLD Beijing

Office); Professor Rongqiao He (recipient of Q-CAS project funding, research partner of Prof. Perry Bartless,

Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland); Minister Ian Walker; Professor Ruiming Xu (Director-

General, Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS); Mr Zijian Zhang (Trade and Investment Commissioner

for China); Mr Bolun Ning (Office of American & Oceanian Affairs, Bureau of International Cooperation,

CAS); and Professor Jinghua Cao (Deputy Director-General, Bureau of International Cooperation, CAS).


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Meeting with Professor Meisheng Nie, President of China Real Estate

Chamber of Commerce (CRECCS) and Mr Zhifeng Liu, President of

China Real Estate Association


Time: 1.40pm – 2.00pm

Venue: The St Regis, Beijing

Attendees:

Professor Meisheng Nie | President of China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce

Professor Zhifeng Liu | Executive Vice President of China Real Estate Association

Cr Mark Jamieson | Mayor of Sunshine Coast

Cr Russell Lutton | Deputy Mayor Logan

Cr Terry James | Deputy Mayor Cairns

Minister Ian Walker meeting with Professor Meisheng Nie, President of China Real Estate Chamber of Commerce.

MATTERS DISCUSSED:

I thanked Professor Nie for her interest in Queensland and her support for the Queensland

Investment Attraction Workshop in Beijing.

I also thanked Professor Nie for travelling to Queensland in March 2013 to explore

opportunities to invest across Queensland.


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I indicated that the Queensland Government was very impressed with the investment

delegation that Professor Nie led to Queensland and our state hopes that each of the

delegates has been able to identify good investment and partnership opportunities as a

result of their visit to Queensland and the Queensland Tourism Investment Mission to

China.

Professor Nie has visited Queensland before and her feedback was very positive.

I advised Professor Nie that Construction and Tourism are two of the four pillars of the

Queensland economy.

I highlighted that Queensland seeks to double visitor expenditure on Tourism to $30 billion

by 2020 and in order to meet this goal, more private investment into tourism infrastructure

is required.

I extended an invitation to Professor Nie to visit Queensland again in the future and said that Queensland welcomes investment from CRECC members into our state and that the Queensland Government will continue to provide support to investors from China.

Meeting with Ms Lucy Niu, Secretary General, China National Committee

for Pacific Economic Cooperation


Time: 6.30pm – 7.00pm

Venue: The St Regis, Beijing

Attendees:

Lucy Niu | Secretary General, China National Committee for Pacific Economic Cooperation

Mr Zhongye Liu | Vice General Manager, China Coal Group Geological Corporation

Cr Mark Jamieson | Mayor of Sunshine Coast

Cr Russell Lutton | Deputy Mayor Logan

Cr Terry James | Deputy Mayor Cairns

MATTERS DISCUSSED:

I had a general discussion on Chinese investment in Queensland with Ms Niu.

Ms Niu informed me of her Committee’s role, function and its international business strategies. She expressed strong interest in continuing to work with Queensland companies to develop business opportunities in China and Australia.

She indicated that she knew the Brisbane and Gold Coast areas quite well.

Mr Liu spoke of his company’s investment in Australia.


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Meeting with Mr Zhi Feng Dong, Deputy Director-General, China

National Centre for Biotechnology Development, Ministry of Science

and Technology (MOST)

Date: Tuesday 16 April 2013

Time: 9.00am – 10.00am

Venue: Ministry of Science and

Technology, 15B, Fuxing Road,

Beijing

Attendees:

Mr Zhi Feng Dong | Deputy Director-General, China National Centre for Biotechnology Development, Ministry of Science and Technology

Mr Ruiguo Li | Executive Deputy Director, International Cooperation Division, China National Centre for Biotechnology Development

Mr Siyuan Wen | International Cooperation Division, Ministry of Science and Technology Corporation

Ms Grace Duan | American and Oceanian Division, International Cooperation Department, Ministry of Science and Technology

(L to R) – Minister Ian Walker, Mr Zhi Feng Dong, Mr Ruiguo Li, and Ms Grace Duan.

MATTERS DISCUSSED:

I advised that my visit to China was my first international mission as Queensland Minister for Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, which demonstrated the strategic importance the Queensland Government places in maintaining, and where possible further developing, a productive relationship with China.

I confirmed that in the area of science and technology development and collaboration, the

new Queensland Government values the strategic relationship the State has with MOST

under the current Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

I confirmed that upon my return to Queensland, I would instruct my Department to

commence formal discussions with representatives of MOST to explore renewing the

current MOU around newly agreed priorities, understanding the importance of the four

pillars.


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I invited MOST to consider sending a life sciences delegation to AUSBIO, Australia's

national biotechnology conference to be held in Brisbane from 29 October to 1 November

2013, or in late 2014 on Queensland's Gold Coast, from 28 to 31 October.

Mr Zhi Feng Dong expressed that China has sound cooperation with Australia and

Queensland and wanted to enhance that cooperation.

Meeting with Mr Minqi Xu, President and Art Director of Guangzhou

Opera House followed by site tour

Date: Thursday 18 April 2013

Time: 2.30pm – 4.00pm

Venue: Guangzhou Opera House, No. 1 Zhujiang Xi Road, Zhujiang Xincheng

Attendees:

Mr Minqi Xu | President and Art Director, Guangzhou Opera House

MATTERS DISCUSSED:

Queensland Performing Arts Complex (QPAC) and Guangzhou Opera House (GOH) recently completed a staff exchange and training program involving seven senior staff from GOH visiting QPAC for one week from Friday 1 March to Friday 8 March 2013 (including travel days). I was able to convey my pleasure at being a special guest and speaker at QPAC’s official farewell dinner for the delegation on Thursday 7 March, 2013.

I asked about the outcomes and unique learnings gained by the GOH delegates from QPAC staff, operations and business and their impressions of Brisbane and Queensland as a tourist destination.

I understood that the next step in advancing QPAC’s relationship with the Guangzhou Opera House is the co-signing of an official Letter of Intent and that it is envisaged that this letter would be signed this year in China by Mr John Kotzas, Chief Executive Officer, QPAC. The areas of mutual interest identified for further cooperation are:

o staff skills and knowledge development in theatre management and operations; and

o programming, specifically QPAC’s leading festival for children – Out of the Box.


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Media coverage

Media reports prior to, during and post the Trade Mission to China.


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Face Time GDTV – A television interview with the Minister and the Deputy

Mayors of Logan and Cairns is expected to air in June 2013.


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Report to Parliament

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