- Published:
- Saturday 24 September 2016
The Victorian Government today entered into a modern and ambitious Sister-State Agreement with China's fastest-growing region, Sichuan.
It is the fourth ever sister-state agreement reached by Victoria world-wide, and the first since 1994.
Signed today during Premier Daniel Andrews' second visit to the province, the agreement between Sichuan and Victoria will have enormous benefits for our state’s trade, investment, tourism and jobs.
It has already paved the way for new connections through business, cultural and arts exchanges, health and education, with announcements today including:
- A new ‘Chinese-Western Medicine Joint Working Group’ led by the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services and the Sichuan Provincial Commission of Health and Family Planning
- Extending the University of Melbourne's Department of Psychiatry research program to the Mental Health Centre West China Hospital of Sichuan University
- A partnership between Holmesglen Institute of TAFE, Chengdu Technician College, and Australia Master Group for vocational education and English language training
- Support from Melbourne's Royal Children's Hospital and Royal Women's Hospital to help develop a new hospital at the Sichuan Province Women’s and Children’s
- A partnership between the State Library of Victoria and Sichuan Library
- An education agreement between La Trobe University and the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China
- A comprehensive partnership involving six chambers of commerce to drive economic exchange and trade
The agreement was celebrated at an event in Chengdu co-hosted by the Premier and Sichuan Province Governor Yin Li, with performances by the Sichuan Opera and Wayapuruk indigenous dancers from Victoria.
Quotes attributable to the Premier Daniel Andrews
“Sichuan is China's fastest growing region with a powerhouse economy three times the size of Australia – we've now got a front seat and that's going to be very rewarding for Victorian jobs.”
“This agreement creates real opportunities for business, education, culture and sport – and Victorians will reap the rewards for many years to come.”