At the invitation of CCPIT Tianjin, a delegation from Australia visited Tianjin from October 20 to 22 and attended the second Tianjin and Victoria food and beverage industry promotion meeting.

Headed by Mr. Peter Walsh, minister for Agriculture and Food Security and minister for Water of Victoria State of Australia, the business delegation, composed of 300 people from 150 enterprises covering the state's major industries in food processing, wine, dairy products, meat, fruits and vegetable plantings, is another big delegation from the State of Victoria to Tianjin since last year.

On October 21, the second Tianjin and Victoria food and beverage industry promotion meeting was held in Tianjin's Lake View Hotel under the auspices of CCPIT Tianjin, Tianjin Commission of Commerce, the State of Victoria and the City of Melbourne. Over 300 delegates from 200 enterprises and industry associations of Tianjin in food processing, sales and trade attended the meeting.

According to statistics, more than 50 cooperative letters of intent were signed on such investment, trade and technological collaboration projects as food processing, wine, dairy products, meat, fruits and vegetable plantings, setting up slaughter houses and wine distribution centres in Tianjin as well as import and cold chain logistics.

Australia wine tasting party and culinary shows were also displayed by the Australia delegation.

Following the promotion meeting, Tianjin deputy mayor Ren Xuefeng met with Mr. Peter Walsh in the Lake View Hotel. CCPIT Tianjin chairman Zhao Xueming, vice chairman Dong Libin and executives of Tianjin Commission of Commerce, Tianjin Foreign Affairs Office, Tianjin State Assets Supervision and Administration Commission and Tianjin Federation of Commerce and Industry attended the meeting.

Mr. Ren welcomed minister Peter Walsh and briefed Tianjin's advantages in developing food industry and the importance of Tianjin Port in serving the big markets of North and Northeast China.

Mr. Ren spoke highly of the success of the second Tianjin and Victoria food and beverage industry promotion meeting and its contribution to the bilateral business collaboration and the twin cities relations between Tianjin and Victoria. The deputy mayor also expressed his willingness to visit Victoria State next year leading a Tianjin business delegation to promote Tianjin.

Mr. Peter Walsh appreciated Mr. Ren's cordial reception. Tianjin is an energetic city and one of the major export destinations for Australian food and beverage products. Looking forward to Mr. Ren's visit to Victoria next year, the minister said that the cooperation between the two sides will contribute to the bilateral development of Tianjin and Melbourne.