20/5/05
Shanghai and Hangzhou offices of the Western Australian Government today launched a new website targeting China-based investors and promoting WA as the world's most attractive investment destination.
The website launch coincides with the visit to WA of Mr Wu Bangguo, chairman of the 10th National People's Congress of China.
State Development Minister Alan Carpenter said the new website would further enhance WA's ability to build trading relationships with China.
"The website also complements the Gallop Government's current initiatives to promote our China-based offices as investment gateways for WA in China," Mr Carpenter said.
The Department of Industry and Resources' China offices in Shanghai and Hangzhou are part of the State Government's network of international trade offices and assist trade activities between China and WA.
Mr Carpenter said the offices provided valuable links to business partnerships for WA companies and their counterparts in China.
The Minister said it was an opportune time to launch the new bilingual website http://www.westernaustralia.cn - with 94 million mainland Chinese having access to the Internet and 71 per cent of China's 1.3 billion strong population aged between 15 and 64.
"The website is designed to cultivate and further develop two-way trade, providing information and assistance for Chinese and WA companies to penetrate their respective target markets and source products, services and technologies from competent suppliers," he said.
"WA is open for business and it is important that we continue to promote our minerals and petroleum, trade, industry, tourism and education sectors.
"With WA exports to China valued at more than $4.9billion in 2004 and imports valued at $600million, there is enormous potential for growth in our nations' relationships, economically and culturally."
In 1987, WA established a formal Sister State relationship with Zhejiang Province. Mr Carpenter said the province had played an important role in WA's overall relationship with China.
"Zhejiang is a major recipient of WA's wool, barley and canola," he said.
"Much of China's imports of iron ore from WA arrive in China via the deep-water ports in Zhejiang and are then delivered to steel mills in other parts of China.
"In addition, it is one of the most developed provinces in China. It boasts one of the highest GDPs and an active and successful private small to medium-sized business sector.
"Good opportunities exist for WA companies to use the Sister State relationship to leverage greater commercial opportunities with Zhejiang and through this relationship with China as a whole."
DoIR's Hangzhou office is responsible for marketing WA in Zhejiang Province, while the department's Shanghai office oversees the Hangzhou office activities and caters for the rest of the market in China.
Minister's office: 9222 9699
