Premier Steven Marshall will conduct his first trade mission next week as he heads to China

PREMIER Steven Marshall will head to Shanghai next week for his first trade mission — as the State Government forges ahead with plans to establish a trade office in the China’s largest city.

PREMIER Steven Marshall will head to China next week for his first trade mission.

Mr Marshall will visit Shanghai, for his first time as leader of the Liberal Party, as the State Government forges ahead with plans to establish a trade office in the China’s largest city.

The keen Port Adelaide fan will also be a guest at the football as his team takes on the Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Arena, part of Jiangwan Stadium, in Shanghai.

“Recently, I met with ambassador Jingye Cheng here in Australia and it was a great opportunity to meet with His Excellency and speak to him about our ambition in the new government to grow the size of our exports to China,” Mr Marshall said.

“I must say, it was an important meeting for us to hit the reset button in terms of our relationship with China.

“In recent years, our export of what is referred to as ‘merchandise exports’ to China has actually gone backwards. “It is almost impossible to believe.

“Everywhere else in the world is actually massively increasing exports to China, except in one place — South Australia.”

Mr Marshall said he will be meeting with “people in Shanghai to do the preliminary work that is necessary” to establish a trade office in the city.

South Australia was the only mainland state of Australia that didn’t have a specific dedicated state government office in Shanghai a very important market in China,” Mr Marshall said.

“We are going to be correcting that error,” he said.

Mr Marshall said he would also be going to the football on an official basis.

“The former government did actually sign a sponsorship agreement to ensure that the Shanghai Stadium is going to be known as Adelaide Arena,” he said.

“This, of course, is an important opportunity to advance our prospects in this important market.

“I will be taking this opportunity. We are promoting South Australia.”

Trade Minister David Ridgeway, who was the first Minister of the new State Government to head overseas on official business when he visited China last month, will not join Mr Marshall, who is expected to fly out next Thursday and return on the Sunday.