16 November 2006
CQC-SAI Grand Opening
Speech by Australian Ambassador to China, Dr Alan Thomas
Beijing, China
Prof Li Huailin, President CQC
Mr George Edwards, Chairman, SAI Global
Madam Wang Fengqing, Chairlady, China Certification and Accreditation Agency (CCAA)
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen.
It gives me great pleasure today to attend the opening ceremony for the SAI Global/CQC joint venture. It is an excellent example of how our respective companies can work together to achieve mutual benefit.
The creation of the joint venture comes at a very opportune time. China’s remarkable economic transformation has meant that we all consume more Chinese made goods and services.
The services provided by CQC-SAI Management Technologies means we will have even greater confidence in the quality of many of the goods and services we are buying.
Australia has done very well from China’s rapid economic development. The resources boom is well documented. What is less well known is that Australian service providers are increasingly accessing the Chinese market.
This joint venture is an excellent example of how Australia’s world-leading services sector can deliver solutions for China in collaboration with Chinese partners.
It reinforces the message we have been delivering to Chinese decision-makers in relation to our ongoing FTA negotiations: that China can benefit from giving improved access to Australian services firms.
Our firms are often equal to the best the US or Europe has to offer, but our size means we are more interested in working in collaboration, rather than competition, with Chinese firms.
I know that my boss, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer, welcomes this collaborative initiative and has sent a personal statement of support.
I would also like to wish the joint venture partners every success.
Speech by President of CQC-SAI, Mr Liu
Speech by President of CQC, Professor Li
Speech by Chairlady of CCAA, Madam Wang
Speech by Chairman of SAI Global, Mr George Edwards
