Trade mission to China will aim to build bridges back to the Murraylands

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Murray Bridge’s mayor and council CEO will go on a trade mission to China in May with hopes of securing foreign investment and promoting local exports.

Councillors voted last week to accept an invitation for Wayne Thorley, Heather Barclay and three local business leaders to attend the Shandong International Friendship Cities Conference for Cooperation and Development.

While they are away, the delegation will attend networking events and a trade fair, meet local business leaders and visit cities including Jinan, Zibo and Qingdao, all of which have populations of more than 4 million people.

Economic development general manager Kristen Manson said the visit would be understood as the next step in establishing an ongoing relationship between Murray Bridge and the city of Dezhou.

A strong relationship could benefit the Murraylands’ food industry, already worth hundreds of millions of dollars; the renewable energy industry; and tourism.

“Local government plays an important role in facilitating business and trade in the (People’s Republic of China) due to the PRC government’s state-led economic model, where government has greater control over, and involvement in, the economy,” Ms Manson said in a report to councillors.

“As the government level closest to the community and local business in Australia, councils with economic development professionals are positioned well to enable two-way trade for the benefit of local businesses and communities.

“This is done by forming trusted relations with other equivalent level governments in the PRC.

“Like any relationship, trust is built over time.

“Operating within this framework can assist, support and protect businesses entering the PRC market, with a government-to-government layer providing important visibility and therefore a degree of security for businesses.”

The delegation’s Chinese hosts will cover the cost of the conference, accommodation and other on-ground expenses.

Ratepayers will foot a bill of almost $14,000 for Mr Thorley and Ms Barclay’s flights and the services of an interpreter.

Not all councillors were happy with the idea of developing closer ties to China when the matter came up for discussion at a council meeting last week.

Cr Andrew Baltensperger said he was concerned that a Chinese naval convoy had been spotted in waters between Australia and New Zealand last month; Cr Clem Schubert went one step further, describing that show of force as “completely unforgiveable”.

“I can’t believe we even want to talk to them,” he said.

“I don’t want any part of it.”

But Mr Thorley said he felt “very comfortable and confident” about the council’s relationship with its counterparts in Shandong, and China more generally.

“This is about investment, about creating economic activity in South Australia, not anything to do with the national security side of things,” he said.

“It’s very important that we build the things which create peace and harmonious relations.”

The invitation to Shandong followed several council meetings with Li Dong, China’s Consul-General in South Australia, and a visit by a delegation from Dezhou to Murray Bridge last July.

It also built on earlier work by the likes of the Australia China Friendship Society and even the Adelaide 36ers, who played a pre-season match against Shandong Golden Stars in Murray Bridge in 2016.

Chinese Australians also make up one of the biggest migrant groups living in Murray Bridge, several hundred people in number.