There were 30 billion reasons to talk over a lavish state dinner in Sydney to honour a visit by the most senior government official of China's most populous province.
Premier Mike Baird hosted Hu Chunhua, party secretary of China's Guangdong province, on Monday at Sydney's Shangri-La Hotel to spruik the deepening ties between NSW and its sister state.
Shortly before an entree of seven-hour braised pork shoulder and a main course of roast beef fillet with a braised black bean and chilli beef rib, Mr Baird told guests that trade between NSW and China is now worth $30 billion.
"It's a very important day," Mr Baird said.
"A day by all accounts that has continued to build on the momentum that is the relationship between China and Australia, and NSW in particular."
Mr Baird said a newly released report by KPMG and the University of Sydney shows China has invested $7 billion in the state over the past year, an increase of $6 billion from 2013.
The report also shows 72 per cent of all Chinese investment in Australia flows through NSW.
Mr Hu hailed his visit as a success.
The party secretary was earlier taken on a harbour cruise, leaving him with a "beautiful impression" of Sydney.
"Guangdong province and NSW are sister provinces and states, but our friendship is much more special than that," he said, noting the sister relationship was his province's first and dated back to the Wran government in 1979.
Mr Hu earlier witnessed the signing of agreements between several business groups.
He said efforts should be made to boost tourism between Australia and Guangdong, China's "economic powerhouse", and to expand two-way trade.
NSW has been working for many years to strengthen relations with Guangdong, which is the largest economy of China's 31 provinces and among the world's 15 biggest economies. It recorded a gross domestic product of $1.1 trillion in 2014.
Share
