The Western Australia, China and Japan Connect trade mission has wrapped up its first stop in China.

Led by Western Australia's (WA) Premier Roger Cook, and Mines and Petroleum Minister David Michael, the mission reinforced the importance of WA’s long-standing relationship with Zhejiang Province, a partnership of more than 35 years, while highlighting the State’s commitment to diversifying the WA economy so it remains the strongest in the nation.

Key highlights of the mission included:

• Premier Cook delivered an opening address and participated in the 7^th China-Western Australia Strategic Dialogue roundtable discussions;
• an evening reception with the Australian Consul-General in Shanghai;
• a site tour of CITIC Pacific Special Steel’s green iron steel mill;
• the Premier and Zhejiang Vice Governor Xu Wenguang co-opened the 10^th Biennial Western Australia-Zhejiang Exchange Committee Meeting, reaffirming the State's commitment to the sister-state relationship; and
• the official opening of the Invest and Trade WA Hangzhou office, reflecting WA’s ongoing commitment to a strategic partnership with Zhejiang Province.

"My vision is for WA to be at the forefront of the clean energy transition, which will support economic diversification and cement our role in a low-carbon global economy,” said Premier Roger Cook. 

"China made up more than 50 per cent of the State's goods exports in the year to June, supporting thousands of local jobs for Western Australians.”

The Premier and Minister Michael will now travel to Japan, continuing to deliver an agenda of energy transition collaboration.

China remains one of WA’s most important global partners, and a key market under the Western Australia’s Asian Engagement Strategy 2019-2030. 

To learn more about trade and investment opportunities between WA and China, visit the Invest and Trade WA Greater China hub page.

Published on: 25 September 2025