australia-china free trade agreement conference brian pilbeam, pr

2At the same time, in Shanghai – when Pudong was little more than fields, we were involved in afeasibility study and the design of conceptual network systems infrastructure for developmentof the New Pudong Area, including its airport – some eight years ahead of AT&T’s signing of anoperations agreement for the area.Two years later, in 1995, we opened our representative office in Beijing to build on ourrelationship with China firsthand and direct our drive into the world’s fastest growing economyand market. In the following year, Telstra concluded one-stop-shop agreements with the thenBeijing, Guangdong and Shanghai Post and Telecommunication Authorities establishing thebilateral requirements needed to serve multinational corporations operating in both Australiaand China.We were accorded formal recognition of the strength of our friendship in 2000 when TelstraCEO, Dr Ziggy Switkowski, was appointed to the Mayor of Shanghai’s International BusinessLeaders’ Advisory Council, a ‘who’s who’ list representing global business.Our long involvement as well as these business networks and relationships are clear evidenceof the critical role of telecommunications in China’s development.Commodities and manufactures have been the focal points in the debate on trade with China.The debate is now shifting to the services arena.China’s future development as a global trading nation will require integrated communicationsnetworks, and the wide array of telecommunications services, to connect the country internallyand link it to the international community 24 hours a day.2. Market access strategiesRecognising that Hong Kong is part of China, Telstra now has a significant Chinese presence.Our focus is on furthering opportunities afforded by our current initiatives:Telstra Asia – the umbrella for our activities in Asia;CSL – Hong Kong’s premium provider of mobile voice and data services, which hasone million customers;