SHANGHAI: On Wednesday 22 September 2025, the Australia China Business Council Western Australia (ACBC WA) and China Chamber of Commerce in Australia (Perth Branch) were delighted to hold the Premier of Western Australia’s 7th China-WA Strategic Dialogue in Shanghai, China.

Initiated by the Australia China Business Council WA and China Chamber of Commerce Australia Perth Branch, the inaugural Dialogue took place in Beijing in 2018, and alternates between Perth and China on an annual basis. This year marked the 7th Strategic Dialogue and is the second time the Hon. Roger Cook MLA has presided over the Dialogue since becoming the WA Premier.

The Dialogue is one of ACBC and CCCA’s flagship annual events and brings together senior representatives of Western Australia’s largest Chinese trade and investment partners, each of whom travel to attend the Dialogue from all over China for a candid and direct discussion with the Premier of Western Australia.

In his opening remarks, Premier Cook said that China remains Western Australia’s largest trading partner by a very wide margin. “According to modelling by the Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre ‘Australia’s Trade and Economic Relationship with China – benefit to Australian households’ report, commissioned by the Australia China Business Council, in 2022-23, Western Australia’s trade with China contributed to approximately 220,600 local jobs, representing 14.5 per cent of the State’s local employment”, he said. He went further to say that “since its inception in Beijing in 2018, the Dialogue has enabled direct and ongoing discussion between the Western Australian Premier and key Chinese investors so the Western Australian Government can better understand and respond to your priorities and challenges. The Western Australian Government places enormous value on this Dialogue, and China is the only country with which we hold this form of engagement.”

Speaking to the Dialogue, ACBC WA President James Clarke said “every Western Australian household benefit from our economic relationship with China in many ways, including additional disposable income, employment gains, and downward pressure on the cost of living. And here in China, Australia and Western Australia specifically continues to be a stable, reliable partner and source of inputs that China needs for its own ongoing growth and development. The relationship is a strong complimentary relationship built on over 50 years of friendship”.

In his welcome remarks, Mr Yong Zhang of the CCCA Perth Branch further stated “this event holds special significance for us—not only because it is the third time the Dialogue is being held in China, but also because it is taking place at the headquarters of China Baowu. Baowu is the largest consumer of Western Australia’s iron ore, and Western Australia is the primary source of iron ore used by Baowu.”

This year’s Dialogue was supported by Event Sponsor HFW, Event Partner China Construction Bank Corporation Perth Branch, and Venue Sponsor Baowu. The Dialogue’s Q&A session was moderated by Adam Handley, Chair of ACBC WA Resources Committee, immediate Past President ACBC WA, former ACBC National Vice President, Chairman of Northern Minerals Limited.

Whilst specific discussion at the Dialogue remains confidential, the Dialogue covered four broad ‘themes’, including:

• Regulatory Environment, Approvals & Compliance
• Economic Strategy, Trade & Investment Relations
• Innovation, Technology & Sustainability
• Connectivity, Tourism & Community 

Each year the Dialogue attracts decision makers from a diverse range of industries including mining & resources, mining services, shipping & logistics, oil & gas, renewable energy, advanced manufacturing, financial services & banking, and primary industries. Notably, this year’s Dialogue marked the first occasion on which representatives from the tourism and airline sectors were formally invited to take part.