Queensland and Shanghai celebrate 30 years as Sister States

Three decades of friendship and fruitful collaboration between Queensland and Shanghai were celebrated today during Deputy Premier Jackie Trad’s trade mission to China.   

Representing Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Ms Trad joined Vice Mayor of Shanghai, His Excellency Mr Xu Kunlin, to sign the twelfth iteration of the Queensland-Shanghai Memorandum of Agreed Cooperation, extending the agreement for another three years. 

“This is a perfect time to reaffirm our very close relationship with this important Chinese municipality while Queensland Chinese communities, and Chinese communities around the world, celebrate the harvest during the traditional Mid-Autumn Festival,” Ms Trad said. 

The longstanding Sister State agreement between Queensland and Shanghai has encouraged closer ties in education, science, technology and the arts.   

“When Trade and Investment Queensland opened its first trade office in China in 1996, Shanghai was an obvious choice,” Ms Trad said. 

“Through that foundational office, we have welcomed a continuous stream of investment from Chinese companies in our State’s resource, transport, agribusiness and manufacturing sectors.  

“China has become one of our most important knowledge partners and a driver of our expanding tourism market. 

“There is certainly plenty to celebrate, including a number of new collaborations between us, the result of the Palaszczuk Government’s ongoing commitment to growing Queensland’s connections to China. 

“China Eastern Airlines is now flying directly from Shanghai to Brisbane, and Queensland tourism operators are joining Alipay, one of the world’s largest online payment platforms based in Shanghai. 

“Queensland start-ups are undertaking incubator opportunities over there; Queensland health experts are training Shanghainese doctors and nurses, and the Queensland Ballet is bringing its production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream to the municipality in November.” 

The Queensland Government reception featured a special joint-performance from the Queensland Youth Orchestra and the Shanghai Youth Philharmonic Orchestra, to commemorate the 30-year anniversary.  

“Sister State agreements are vital to encouraging business and cultural exchanges between States, Provinces and Prefectures, and the Queensland Government is currently engaged in seven – in China, Japan, Indonesia, Korea and the United States,” the Deputy Premier said.  

The Deputy Premier is in Shanghai as part of a three-day trade mission to China.  

[ENDS]

Media Contact:  Daniel Lato 0438 891 158