The delegation led by the consul general pose for a group photo with officials from the Fujian Provincial Foreign Affairs Office. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A delegation led by Liam Mulvey, consul general at the Australian Consulate-General Guangzhou, conducted a three-day visit to Fuzhou and Xiamen in Fujian province from April 12 to 14.

The itinerary included the Australian Premium Products Showcase in Fuzhou, organized by the Australian Trade and Investment Commission. Twenty-five Australian companies, including representatives from Tasmania, engaged in business matchmaking with Fujian-based companies during the exhibition and a subsequent business dinner.

In Fuzhou, Mulvey met with Li Lin, director general of the Fujian Provincial Foreign Affairs Office. Li underscored the significance of the 45th anniversary of the Fujian-Tasmania sister province/state relationship, calling for closer coordination with the Australian Consulate-General Guangzhou to deliver concrete results in bilateral cooperation. Mulvey praised the province's development achievements and affirmed the Consulate-General's role in facilitating commercial linkages.

The delegation also visited Fuzhou Melbourne Polytechnic, a joint educational institution, where they toured training and exhibition facilities, observed classes in Chinese and Australian cultural programs such as Chinese tea art performance and calligraphy, and held discussions with school leaders and faculty representatives on challenges in joint education and opportunities for further program expansion.

In Xiamen, Mulvey met with officials from the municipal foreign affairs office and held discussions with institutions, including the South China Sea Institute of Xiamen University.