Australian Consulate-General
Chengdu, China

Consul-General's Remarks at AustCham Networking Lunch with Australian Dairy Mission, Chengdu, 29 June 2018 总领事在澳大利亚商会华西分会澳洲奶牧业午宴上的讲话,成都,2018年6月29日

Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.

各位 来宾

女士们,先生们

 

I’m delighted to be here today at Austcham West China’s networking lunch for Austrade’s 2018 Australian Dairy Mission.

很高兴 出席 澳大利亚商会 华西分会 举办的 澳大利亚  奶牧业 午宴。

 

The importance of the dairy industry to Australian agriculture cannot be overstated. It is one of our agricultural economy’s key sectors, ranking third in value behind beef and wheat.

奶牧业在澳大利亚的农业中占据了举足轻重的地位,其产值在整个农业经济中仅次于牛肉和小麦。

 

We are a dairy exporting powerhouse, ranking fourth globally in terms of world trade share. Of course, China is now an increasingly important part of that story.

我们是奶制品出口大国,国际贸易市场份额位居全球第四,而中国在这一贸易关系中正扮演着越来越重要的角色。

 

Greater China is now our largest export market, at almost AUD1 billion or one-third of our total exports. The reasons for this are well-known.

大中华区是澳大利亚最大的出口市场,出口额高达10亿澳元,占出口总额的三分之一。究其原因,可以说众所皆知。

 

The Australian dairy industry offers a largely pasture-based, free range, production system that ensures a consistently high-standard product. Our quality and food safety processes are amongst the best in the world, with traceability throughout the entire supply chain. And we provide a breadth of processing capacity and flexibility that offers real choice for Chinese customers.

首先,澳大利亚牧场放养型的生产模式为生产高质量奶制品提供了保障。其次,我们有世界上最好的食品安全保障体系,可以实现全产业链有迹可查。此外,我们的加工方式灵活多样,让中国的消费者真正做到随心选择产品。

 

That is why it is so important for Australian companies to visit here and see the opportunities with their own eyes.

因此,对于澳大利亚企业来说,亲眼看看这里的商业机会显得尤为重要。

 

Taking southwest China as an example, the region as a whole had an average GDP growth rate of 9.5 per cent last year, against a nationwide average of 6.9 per cent. Meanwhile, average per capita income growth stood at nearly 10 per cent.

以中国西南地区为例:去年,中国的 GDP 增速为 6.9%,而西南地区  GDP 平均      增速达到了 9.5%。 同时,人均收入也增长了差不多10%。

 

Southwest China – as with the rest of the country - is therefore in the midst of a consumer boom, with a rapidly expanding middle class eager for the types of high-quality agricultural produce the Australian dairy industry is well-placed to provide.

中国正经历着一轮消费升级,西南地区也不例外。快速增长的中产阶级群体愿意消费   高品质的农产品, 澳大利亚奶牧业正好能满足这样的需求。

 

As a government, Australia’s active engagement locally means we are genuinely seen as a heavy hitter here, with a competitive advantage that we don’t always enjoy in the eastern provinces. This, combined lower tariffs because of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, means you could not have picked a more opportune time to visit the southwest.

澳大利亚政府在西南地区建立了积极活跃的伙伴关系,被视为重要合作伙伴;这是我们在东部省份难以拥有的比较优势。此外,中澳自贸协定带来持续的关税减免红利,现在正是你们来访寻求商机的最佳时机 。

 

But perhaps the most important part of the Australia-China dairy partnership is the mutually beneficial cooperation that’s been nurtured over the years.

当然,中澳奶牧业合作最重要的因素,要数双方多年来打下的互利合作基础。

 

Take the example of Burra Foods, one of Australia’s key dairy bulk ingredient suppliers. In 2016, Fuyuan Farming Co, one of China’s largest dairy consortiums, invested over AUD300 million in the dairy processor. This allowed Burra in 2017 to announce an AUD24.5 million expansion into infant formula.

举个例子, Burra食品是澳大利亚的重要奶源供应商。2016年,中国乳业巨头富源牧业向Burra  投资 3亿多澳元,让Burra有实力于次年斥资 2,450万澳元进军婴幼儿奶粉市场。

 

The partnership has therefore allowed Burra to move up into a higher value-added supply chain, while at the same time allowing Fuyuan to secure a stable source of high quality Australian product.

这样的合作关系让Burra食品上升到更高附加值的产业链,也让富源牧业有了稳定的高品质奶源。

 

I look forward to seeing similar success stories in the future among those of you gathered here today.

我期待未来能听到在座各位同样精彩的合作故事。

 

On that note, let me emphasise that the Australian Consulate-General in Chengdu, through both DFAT and Austrade, stands ready to assist you in whatever way possible as you explore opportunities in the southwest.

澳大利亚驻成都总领事馆和澳大利亚贸易投资委员会,愿与各位携手共同开拓西南地区的巨大商机。

 

I wish you all the best for the rest of your visit.

祝各位西南之行一切顺利。

 

Thank you.

谢谢大家!