Speeches
Friday, 17 April 2026
Welcome Luncheon: Yantai Municipal People's Government
I am delighted to be back in Shandong Province, and to be visiting Yantai.
This is my second visit to China as Governor, in what is a particularly symbolic year for South Australia’s relationship with Shandong Province as we celebrate the 40th anniversary of our Sister-State Relationship.
Over four decades, our partnership has grown from a foundation of goodwill into an enduring collaboration across trade, education, culture and people-to-people exchange.
Today, as we reflect on this shared history, we also look forward to the next chapter of cooperation, shaped by new opportunities and evolving global priorities.
South Australia is a globally connected, outward-looking state, with strong capabilities across a number of key economic sectors.
In particular, we are internationally recognised for our premium food, wine and agribusiness industries.
These sectors remain central to our trade and investment engagement, and we see significant opportunity to deepen collaboration with Shandong, particularly here in Yantai, a city renowned for its wine production and increasingly for its wine tourism.
Yantai’s natural environment, well suited to viticulture, has supported the city’s emergence as one of China’s leading wine-producing regions.
We understand that under China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, Yantai is seeking to further strengthen its wine brand and develop a globally recognised wine tourism offering.
This presents a compelling alignment with South Australia’s own expertise, and a strong foundation for future collaboration.
Indeed, a key focus of our bilateral engagement is technical cooperation in the wine sector.
My program of engagements here in Yantai reflects this priority, and I have been pleased to see the depth and quality of exchange taking place.
I particularly note the valuable discussions held with Changyu Wine, including my meeting with leaders earlier this morning, as well as the constructive roundtable between Treasury Wine Estates and the China Alcoholic Drinks Association.
I will also soon meet representatives from Château Changyu Tinlot, which I am confident will be an equally fruitful engagement.
All of these exchanges demonstrate the practical and mutually beneficial nature of our partnership.
Looking ahead, the South Australian Government welcomes the opportunity to build on this momentum by broadening our collaboration with Yantai.
In addition to food, wine and agribusiness, education is a cornerstone of South Australia’s international engagement.
We are home to world-leading institutions, including Flinders University and Adelaide University, the latter recognised as a top 100 university globally.
Alongside the South Australian Certificate of Education, and technical courses offered through TAFESA, our education system is focused on equipping students with the skills and capabilities required to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Arts and culture also play a vital role in connecting our communities.
At the local level, it is also important to recognise the longstanding ties between our communities.
The partnership between the City of Charles Sturt and the City of Yantai, formalised through agreements in 2015 and 2016, has provided an important platform for cooperation.
More recently, we were pleased to welcome representatives from the Yantai Foreign Affairs Office to South Australia in April 2025, further reinforcing these connections.
The relationship between South Australia and Shandong Province, particularly with Yantai, is one built on trust, shared ambition and a commitment to mutual benefit.
As we mark 40 years of partnership, we do so with confidence in what lies ahead.
By continuing to deepen our collaboration, across industry, education, culture and people-to-people exchange, we can ensure that this relationship remains vibrant, relevant and impactful for decades to come.