16 November 2006
CQC-SAI Grand Opening
Speech by Chairman of SAI Global, George Edwards
Beijing, China
Ambassador, Madame Wang, Professor Li, Mr Liu and other distinguished guests.
I am deeply honoured to be standing before you today in Beijing, a place that means a great deal to me. I stand before you on the eve of the APEC leaders meeting in Hanoi, where I was due to attend a meeting with the Minister of Trade for Australia. But for me, when faced with a choice between listening to leaders discuss advancing Asia-Pacific economic dynamism and actually participating in it, the choice was clear. Because today we are all playing a part in history. A history that will see the birth of a new company at a time when there is great emphasis in China on becoming one of the world’s manufacturing bases for high value-added products.
China has long been one of the world’s top destinations for foreign investment, and with the recent announcement of the government’s plan to seek quality investors, I believe that this joint venture comes at a pertinent time. CQC-SAI is on track to become a high quality management technologies company. Furthermore, in providing advanced technical expertise in the form of management technologies and training, CQC-SAI is well placed to assist Chinese companies to provide quality services.
I made my first visit to Beijing as a guest of the Chinese government almost exactly thirty years ago today. It was in 1976 - a very important year for China, one that remains strong in their memory, and in mine as well.
Having formed a relationship with China over these past 30 years, it gives me great pleasure to stand here today at the birth of CQC-SAI Management Technologies, and witness my company also forming a relationship with an important Chinese organisation.
CQC is one of the world’s great certification and training bodies and SAI Global is honoured to be standing alongside such a highly respected international organization. While SAI is smaller in scale than CQC it is certainly more global in nature, with offices across Asia, Europe and North America. SAI Global is an extremely clever company and brings to the joint venture leading-edge management practices and high-end software solutions, as well as other skills.
One of the things that I have learnt doing business in China is that balance and harmony are very important. I believe that the joint venture with CQC and SAI Global will inherit the balance and harmony of these two great companies. To me, CQC represents independence and impartiality, standards and precision, high quality and efficiency. SAI Global represents innovation and quality, education and knowledge, safety and security. We hope that CQC-SAI will build on the work and reputation of its parents and continue the tradition of these two world leading companies.
Today is not just about the birth of a new company. It is about the forging of a future for trade facilitation across Asia. By acting as an agent, CQC-SAI will help to serve Chinese businesses which are exporting products into international markets.
Today is also about the strengthened relationship between China and Australia. Upon learning of the joint venture, the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Honourable Alexander Downer said, “The opening of the Beijing office is a welcome sign of the continued strong growth in our economic and trade ties with China and the esteem with which Australian companies such as SAI Global are held overseas.”
Finally, today is about the development of a relationship between the CQC-SAI joint venture and SAI Global’s growing number of offices around the world. At SAI Global, we like to think of the company as one big family, and we are very excited and honoured to be welcoming CQC-SAI into our family.
I would like to finish with a thought from Chairman Mao, one that I heard in October 30 years ago: A one thousand mile journey starts with the first step. And on behalf of SAI Global and our colleagues around the world, I am very proud and honoured to be taking this first step with you today.
Speech by President of CQC-SAI, Mr Liu
Speech by President of CQC, Professor Li
Speech by Chairlady of CCAA, Madam Wang
Speech by Australian Ambassador to China, Dr Alan Thomas
