rom left: Stuart Ayres; mining magnate Andrew Forrest; Zhou Wenzhong, secretary-general of the Boao Forum for Asia; and New South Wales Premier Mike Baird, at the launch of the forum in Sydney. Ayres says that China’s growing middle class provides great opportunities for Australia in areas including healthcare, education and financial services. (Photo by Michele Mossop / Boao Forum) Welcoming delegates at this year’s Boao Forum for Asia Sydney Conference, Mike Baird, the premier of New South Wales (NSW), used the opportunity to extol the virtues of his state.
Describing the southeastern Australian state as the economic “powerhouse” of Australia, he said the government was keen to work with regional neighbors to attract greater business and investment opportunities.