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Sydney China Business Forum program

Time Event Panel description
8 – 9am Registration
9 – 9.20am

Welcome and opening of forum

Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of NSW and Chancellor of the University of Sydney
The Hon. Barry O’Farrell MP, Premier of New South Wales
The Hon. Martin Ferguson MP, Australia’s Minister for Resources and Energy and Minister for Tourism
Mr Guiru Ling, Counsellor, the Economic and Commercial Office, Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China, Sydney (representing the Consul-General)
The Hon. Robert Kok, Deputy Lord Mayor of Sydney (representing the Lord Mayor) Dr Michael Spence, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sydney
Professor Kerry Brown, Executive Director of the University of Sydney China Studies Centre
9.20 – 9.45am Demystifying Chinese investment and addressing Australia’s energy challenge

Introduction: The Hon. Barry O’Farrell MP, Premier of New South Wales

Report highlights and case studies: Professor Hans Hendrischke, Professor of Chinese Business and Management, University of Sydney Business School and Mr Doug Ferguson, Partner, KPMG Asia Business Group

The Premier will refer to his launch of the KPMG/University of Sydney report, ‘Demystifying Chinese Investment’, in August 2012 and introduce the preliminary KPMG/University of Sydney research on Australia’s Energy Challenge (which anticipates the final Energy White Paper).
9.45 – 10.15am Keynote address: The Hon. Martin Ferguson MP
Minister for Resources and Energy
Minister for Tourism

The Energy White Paper aims to set durable policy directions to ensure Australia's long-term economic prosperity and energy security. What are the major challenges for Australia, and for investors? According to the draft paper, over the next two decades Australia will need to invest more than $200 billion in infrastructure to sustain our resources and energy industries. How have recent developments affected these forecasts?

10.15 – 11.15am

Chair: Professor Kerry Brown, Executive Director of the University of Sydney China Studies Centre

Panel one – International competition and international co-operation for investment capital. In speaker order:

  1. Professor Geoffrey Garrett, Dean, University of Sydney Business School
  2. Mr Michael Bray, Partner and Head, Energy and Natural Resources Industry Group, KPMG
  3. Mr Peter Rowe, Head, North Asia Division, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  4. Mr Guiru Ling, Counsellor, the Economic and Commercial Office, Consulate-General of the People’s Republic of China, Sydney
  5. Dr Daouda Cisse, the Centre for Chinese Studies, Stellenbosch University, South Africa

Where are investment funds likely to come from for the infrastructure requirements needed to sustain our resources and energy industries? What countries is NSW targeting?

China will be the major client for Australian resources, but there is increasing international competition for Chinese investment capital. How does Chinese investment differ from international investment from other sources? How can Australian-Chinese trade links be used to attract Chinese infrastructure investment?
11.15 – 11.30am Morning tea break  
11.30 – 12 noon Keynote address:
The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull MP
Shadow Minister for Communications and Broadband		  

12 – 1pm

Chair: Professor David Goodman, Academic Director, China Studies Centre

Panel two – China’s role in expanding infrastructure investment in Australia
In speaker order:

  1. Mr Jiming Zhu, Vice General Manager, China Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Group
  2. The Hon. Warwick Smith AM, Chair, ANZ Bank NSW and ACT and Chair, Australia-China Council
  3. Mr Barry Irwin, Partner, Allen & Overy
  4. Professor Hans Hendrischke, Professor of Chinese Business and Management, University of Sydney Business School
  5. Mr Doug Ferguson, Partner, KPMG Asia Business Group

This panel will focus its discussion on the resources and energy infrastructure built by China over the last few decades and the leading technical expertise it has acquired in areas such as railway, power grid and pipeline construction. What technological expertise is China likely to contribute to Australian infrastructure development? Are there new models which will combine technical and financial investment?
1 – 1.45pm Lunch  
1.45pm – 2.15pm Keynote address: Mr Qu Yingpu, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, China Daily newspaper

China has a strong record of success in major infrastructure development. The scale of these developments is significant, and through them, Chinese investors have developed substantial expertise. What opportunities are Chinese investors looking for in Australia, and what expertise can they bring with them?

2.15 – 3.15pm

Chair and participant: Professor Vivienne Bath, Faculty of Law, University of Sydney and Vice-President, NSW Branch, Australia China Business Council

Panel three – Barriers to entry and Australia’s regulatory framework
In speaker order:

  1. Professor Allan Fels AO, Dean of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government
  2. Mr Andrew Reeves, Chair, Australian Energy Regulator
  3. The Hon. John Brumby, Director, Huawei Australia
  4. Mr Hong Chen, Head, Australia Group, China Development Bank
  5. Ms Susan O’Rourke, Partner, McCullough Robertson Lawyers

What are the characteristics of Chinese infrastructure investment? Is Chinese state capitalism a relevant consideration? Does Chinese state-ownership have practical implications for Australia's competitive environment? How can regulatory and business considerations be combined to lead to optimal outcomes?
3.15 – 3.30 pm Afternoon tea break  
3.30 - 4pm Keynote address:
The Hon. Andrew Stoner MP
Deputy Premier of NSW
NSW Minister for Trade and Investment and Minister for Regional Infrastructure and Services		  

4 – 5pm

Chair: Professor Marian Baird,
University of Sydney Business School

Panel four – Opportunities for ‘spill-over’ investment
In speaker order:

  1. Mr Mark Paterson, Director General, NSW Trade and Investment
  2. Mr William Xiangdong Wu, General Manager, China Rail 15th Group Australia Pty Ltd
  3. Professor Yongda Yu, Director of the Institute of International Strategy and Development, Tsinghua University
  4. Mr Zeke Solomon AM, Senior Consultant, Allens

Investment cooperation creates partnerships and trust. How can partnerships in infrastructure construction be extended into agribusiness and other areas, including services and manufacturing, where Australia is seeking investment?

5.00 – 5.15pm

Concluding remarks – Professor Kerry Brown, Executive Director of the University of Sydney China Studies Centre