The following media release was issued by the Australian Foreign Minister Mr Stephen Smith MP today:
Visit to Shanghai World Expo
I will visit Shanghai, China on Tuesday 18 and Wednesday 19 May to formally open the Australian Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo.
This will be my first visit to Shanghai as Foreign Minister, and my second visit to China as Foreign Minister.
Shanghai is the main centre for Australian business and investment in China. There are 8000 Australians registered as living in Shanghai and the surrounding region.
I am pleased to be the first Federal Minister to visit the Expo and Australia’s pavilion.
Shanghai’s World Expo 2010 offers a unique opportunity to showcase Australia and Australian culture to the estimated seven million Chinese and overseas visitors who will visit the Australian pavilion during the six months of World Expo.
The pavilion is an ideal example of Australian innovation and creativity. Its cultural program is Australia’s largest ever international arts promotion. A comprehensive program of business events will help boost trade and investment, strengthen institutional relationships and build people-to-people links.
While in Shanghai, I will discuss the Australia-China bilateral relationship with Chinese officials.
Australia and China share a strong bilateral relationship based on rapidly growing trade – worth over $80 billion in 2008-09 – and significant shared interests in the Asia-Pacific region.
Minerals and petroleum resource exports account for over two thirds of Australia’s merchandise exports to China, where Australia is seen as a competitive and reliable supplier of a wide range of energy resources.
In recent years, institutional and people-to-people links have flourished, as illustrated by the 130,000 Chinese students currently studying in Australia.
I am also looking forward to speaking at Fudan University, one of China’s oldest and most prominent Universities.
Mr Smith’s Office: Courtney Hoogen 02 6277 7500 or 0488 244901 Departmental : (02) 6261 1555