This evening, I travel to China to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference.

 

The Boao Forum has emerged as our region’s premier meeting of business leaders, policy makers and academia, all working to secure better economic integration across the dynamic and growing Asian region.

 

I will be meeting with Chinese and global leaders to talk about the big questions facing Australia’s region: economic development, climate change, regional cooperation, infrastructure and digital disruption.

 

I will also join discussions on the future of skilled manufacturing in the digital age and how Australia can harness the jobs and opportunities which will come from the rise of Asia and an interconnected global economy.

 

As well as participating in the Conference, I will be meeting with business leaders and academics including Jiang Jianqing (Chairman, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China), Professor Jeffrey Sachs (Columbia University), Hans-Paul Bürkner (BCG) and Andrew Forrest (Fortescue Metals Group).

 

On the conclusion of the Boao Conference I will travel to Beijing, where I will meet with senior members of the Chinese Government.

 

I will also be meeting with representatives of Australian businesses working in China, along with members of China’s business, education, health, civil society and arts communities.

 

This will be my first visit to China as Opposition Leader, following my previous visits representing workers, as a Parliamentary Secretary, and as a Minister.

 

On each visit, I join the rest of the world in marvelling at the transition underway in China as it embraces its responsibility as a world power, with energy, confidence and a clear eye on the future.

 

Tanya Plibersek will be Acting Opposition Leader while I am overseas.

 

THURSDAY, 26 MARCH 2015

 

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