Today the Australia Minister for Foreign Affairs announce the appointment of Mr Grant Dooley as Australia's Consul-General in Guangzhou. Mr Dooley replaces Sean Kelly who has been Consul-General since January 2007. Mr Dooley is expected to take up his appointment in January 2010.
China's growing economic and political influence is having a profound impact on the Asia-Pacific region and the world. China is now Australia's largest trading partner. Two-way trade has increased by 30 per cent to $83 billion in 2008-09 underpinned by strong growth in resources exports.
The Consulate-General in Guangzhou is located in Guangdong province, China's largest provincial economy. The Consulate-General also has responsibility for five other southern Chinese provinces ??Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Yunnan and Hainan. Together with Guangdong, these account for over fifteen per cent of Australia's total exports to China.
Guangdong province accounts for close to a third of both China's imports and exports and around nine per cent of Australia's trade with China.
The landmark multi-billion dollar North West Shelf liquefied natural gas (LNG) deal with China in 2006 saw Guangdong emerge as the key export destination in China for Australian LNG.
Australia's people-to-people ties with southern China are strong with a long history of migration to Australia. Guangdong's sister-state relationship with New South Wales celebrated its thirtieth anniversary this year, while Fujian has a sister-state relationship with Tasmania.
Guangdong's status as the largest Chinese market for Australian education providers and the largest source of Chinese tourists is evidence of a dynamic and deepening relationship.
Mr Dooley has extensive experience within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and has previously served overseas in Jakarta and Shanghai.
Mr Dooley was a member of the Royal Australian Navy (1982-98) prior to joining DFAT in 1998.
Mr Dooley speaks Mandarin, holds a Bachelor of Asian Studies (Chinese) and a Master of International Affairs, both from the Australian National University. Mr Dooley is married with five children.
http://www.foreignminister.gov.au/releases/2009/fa-s091120c.html
