China's Fujian province and Australia's Tasmania state reached a memorandum of understanding on Nov 17 that aims to increase and deepen cooperation in various sectors.

You Quan, Fujian's Party Secretary, and Will Hodgman, Premier of Tasmania, signed the Agreement on Establishing the Joint Committee for Cooperation and Development, which will oversee coordination of bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

You Quan (R), Fujian's Party Secretary, shakes hands with Will Hodgman, Premier of Tasmania, south Australia on Nov 19. [Photo/Fujian Daily]

The two sides also agreed that bi-annual meetings will be held between Tasmania and Fujian, focusing on economy and trade, agriculture, forestry, oceans and fisheries, and education.

In addition, a Fujian Week in Tasmania and a Tasmania Week in Fujian will be held within the next two years.

You Quan and a Fujian delegation were part of the entourage in Chinese President Xi Jinping's State visit to Australia from Nov 16 to 20.

Fujian and Tasmania have maintained a successful sister state/province relationship since the 1980s and witnessed fruitful results in bilateral communication.

In 2001, Xi, the then-governor of Fujian province, and Jim Bacon, the then Tasmanian Premier, signed a joint statement marking the 20th anniversary of the sister-state relationship between Fujian and Tasmania. Xi also granted Bacon honorary citizenship of Fujian province.

"President Xi's State visit to Australia this time will push the friendship to a new level and lead to a slew of business opportunities for state/province communications," said You Quan.

Representatives from eight enterprises in Fujian, including Xiamen Airlines, Xiamen Construction and Development Group and Zijin Mining Group, who were visiting with You Quan, participated in a China-Australia Business Forum on Nov 19. They discussed with more than 100 other business leaders about the economic opportunities brought by a wide-ranging free trade agreement.

Four enterprises in Fujian, namely Yonghui Supermarket, Fuzhou Honglong Marine Fisheries Company, Fuqing Leaves Agricultural Development Co and Pingtan Deep-sea Fishing Co signed eight cooperation deals with Australian enterprises, with a value of 482 million yuan ($79 million).

The Fujian delegation visited Parramatta City Campus of the University of Western Sydney on Nov 18. The university has established partnerships with Xiamen University and Huaqiao University in Fujian.

You Quan (L), Fujian's Party Secretary, talks with a student at the Parramatta City Campus of the University of Western Sydney on Nov 18. [Photo/Fujian Daily]

Fujian's development will more rely on science, innovation and professionals, where education plays a vital role. It hopes to enhance cooperation with the University in school-running, training of teachers, exchange of classes and students in future, said You.

The visit by President Xi and Fujian delegates triggered a heated reverberation by local Chinese. They showed up with Chinese national flags and even played drums to embrace the delegates.

"Their patriotism really touches me throughout President Xi's visit. I am proud of my folks," said You.

"My biggest wish for them is that they all live and work in happiness. No matter where they are, they harbor attachment to their motherland. And no matter where they are from, they are welcome to come and visit Fujian."

You Quan (R), Fujian's Party Secretary, visits the Australia China Economics, Trade and Culture Association in Sydney, Australia, Nov 19. [Photo/Fujian Daily]