Nominations have opened for the 2011 ACAA / CPA Australia China Alumni Awards. The awards, now in their third year, are an initiative of the Australia China Alumni Association and CPA Australia and celebrate excellence in Australia’s university education sector, recognizing the significant achievements of Australian-educated university alumni who are now based in China.

Applications are open for one more week for the Greater China Travel Mission (GCTM), a three day workshop where Australian operators have the opportunity to arrange up to 90 12-minute appointments with buyers for the Chinese travel market.

New South Wales Premier, Barry O’Farrell is the first to admit his state has lagged behind other Australian governments in securing strong trade and investment relationships with China. However, he hopes his recent six-day trade delegation to Hong Kong and China, comprising some of the state’s most high-profile business people and academics across a range of sectors from mining and resources to education, demonstrates the importance his government is placing on the state’s biggest trading partner.