Sinosteel Channar Joint Venture Third Extension

Agreements for the Third Extension of the Channar Joint Venture between Sinosteel Australia and Hamersley Iron were signed on 23rd November 2017 which extended the joint venture for a further three years and for its production to increase to 290 million tonnes. The agreement was signed at Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing. The Channar Joint Venture has been the foremost cooperation between China and Australia and the most successful Chinese overseas investment as to date. The Extension represents another milestone in the 30-year partnership that had already resulted in more than 250 million tonnes of iron ore being delivered from the Pilbara to China.

Chambers & Company meets Zhaojin Mining Industry Co Ltd in Zhaoyuan

In November 2017, Senior Partner Mr Robin Chambers AO and Manager – Marketing & Communications MS Vicki Guo met with senior management of Zhaojin Mining Industry at Zhaojin city in Shandong Province. Group Chairman Mr Weng Zhanbin, Group Legal Counsel Mr Sun Yanpeng and CFO Mr Dai Hanbao and Chief of Staff to Chairman’s office Mr Li Jia were in attendance.

Chambers & Company meets China International Chamber of Commerce for Private Sector (CICCPS) in Beijing

On 23rd of November, Senior Partner of Chambers & Company, Mr Robin Chambers AO, Senior Associate Ms Jennifer He and Manager – Marketing & Communications Ms Vicki Guo met with China International Chamber of Commerce for Private Sector (CICCPS) in Beijing. Secretary General of CICCPS Mr Wang Yanguo and Director for Resources & Energy Committee Dr Gao Hui were in attendance.
Mr Wang introduced the history and development of CICCPS to date, profile of its members in China and the agenda in promoting ‘Belt & Road Initiative’ going aboard, Mr Wang also invited Chambers & Company to take part in its Australian operation and to assist its members on their Australian investment going forward.

Our Law Firm’s Anniversary

Our law firm celebrated its 33rd Anniversary in October 2017. It was established on 17th October 1984 when we were appointed by the Chinese government on China’s first overseas investment, the Channar joint venture between Hamersley Iron and Sinosteel. The Heads of Agreement of the 3rd Extension of the Channar Joint Venture was signed in Perth on 29th August and the Agreement of the 3rd Extension of Channar is scheduled to be signed in Beijing on 23 November 2017.

The 25th Anniversary of our law firm was celebrated when the Chinese Ambassador Zhang Junsai was the guest of honour. He was joined by the former Australian Prime Minister Bob Hawke at the event.

Our law firm’s 20th Anniversary was celebrated in 2004 when Governor John Sununu, the Former Chief of Staff of the White House in the US came to Melbourne as the guest of honour of our law firm.

Meeting with Yunnan Tin Group Delegation

On 1 August 2017 we received a senior delegation from Yunnan Tin Group in Chambers office; Yunnan Tin Group is one of our long term clients. The delegation was led by the new Chairman, the Senior Communist party representative and the head of Human Resources for Yunnan Tin Australia. We have exchanged views on Yunnan Tin’s strategy for overseas expansion, overseas investment and project management.

Senior Partner Robin Chambers AO chairing International Mining and Resources Conference (IMARC)

Robin Chambers was the Chairman of the International Mining Summit session entitled International Law & Attracting Investment to your Jurisdiction on the third day of the IMARC conference in Melbourne when speakers covered a range of topics on mining law in the context of international practice

Private Briefing Session with Zhang Jijing, Executive Director of CITIC Limited

On November 8th, 2016, we hosted clients and contacts the Private Boardroom Briefing Session with Mr Zhang Jijing, Executive Director of CITIC Limited and Chairman of CITIC Mining International, which focused on current Sino – Australia bilateral trade relations with emphasis on commodity trading and Chinese economy.

WARI Settlement

Our client WARI which is an Australian subsidiary of Wuhan Iron and Steel Group Corporation (WISCO), a major Chinese steel producer, entered into a Settlement Deed with Centrex Metals to resolve a number of issues regarding their Port Spencer Joint Venture and Eyre Iron Joint Venture which related to an iron ore exploration project in South Australia.

Sinosteel Joint Venture Second Extension

Agreements for the Second Extension of the Channar Joint Venture between Sinosteel Australia and Hamersley Iron were signed on 15th April 2016 which extended the joint venture for a further three years and for its production to increase to 180 million tonnes. The agreement was signed in the presence of the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in the Great Hall of the People. The Heads of Agreement for its extension was signed in the Parliament House in Canberra in the presence of Chinese President Xi JinPing and the Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

Minister for Trade and Investment’s Business Delegation to China Free Trade Agreement Conference

In August 2015, our Senior Partner Mr Robin Chambers AO has been invited and participated in a high level governmental business delegation led by Minister for Trade and Investment The Hon Mr Andrew Robb to Hong Kong, promoting the Australia – China Free Trade agreement.

‘How to Invest in Australia’ Book Launch

At the special invitation of the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to the Commonwealth of Australia, His Excellency Ma Zhaoxu and the Chinese Embassy in Australia, our law firm contributed a key chapter in this publication on the Australian Foreign Investment Regime.

The publication was issued by the Chinese Embassy in China and is intended for reference by Chinese State Owned Enterprises and private corporations investing in Australia.

Ministerial Delegation to China

Mr. Robin Chambers AO was a member of the ministerial delegation to China on 26-28 August 2015 led by Andrew Robb AO MP, to Shanghai and Beijing and participation in the China Australia FTA Forum with the Chinese Minister of Commerce, Gao Hucheng.

Briefing Session by Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong

We hosted a private Briefing Session on China with Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong on Monday 3 August 2015 in our boardroom. Ambassador Zhou Wenzhong was formerly the Chinese Ambassador to the United States from 2005 to 2010 and was previously Chinese Ambassador to Australia from 1998 to 2001. The Ambassador was visiting Australia to attend the Boao Forum for Asia Conference in Sydney held on 29-31 July 2015. Some pre-eminent business figures in Australia were invited to attend the Briefing. Ambassador Zhou shared his views with participants on the latest development on investments, trade, economic cooperation between China and Australia since the signing of FTA in June; Ambassador Zhou also spoke on China’s ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative and opportunities brought by ‘Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank’ initiative. Program Coordinator of Boao Forum for Asia Mr Sun Yi was also in attendance at this Briefing.

Puralube Oil Processing Joint Venture with Weichai

In 2015, we were engaged by Puralube Holding GmbH to negotiate a $500 million oil processing joint venture with Weichai Power Co. Ltd. in Weifang which is in Shandong Province. This German client engaged our law firm in Melbourne as its lawyers on this major Chinese joint venture. This followed previous joint venture negotiations entered into with Sinopec which did not proceed. The project involved US technology owned by Puralube’s US parent.

Chambers & Company meets with Chinese Minister Counsellor Huang Rengang in Canberra

On 6 April 2015, our Senior Partner Mr. Robin Chambers AO and Manager – Marketing and Communications, Mrs. Vicki Guo met with Minister Counsellor Huang Rengang at the Chinese Embassy in Canberra. Mr. Chambers AO introduced the firm’s 30 years of experience assisting Chinese companies making investment in Australia.

Minister Counsellor Huang engaged discussion and exchanged views with Mr. Robin Chambers AO on Sino-Australia cooperation on energy and resources, promoting Chinese companies making sustainable developments in Australia and opportunities brought by ‘one belt one road’ initiative. The third Secretary of Economic and Commercial Counsellor’s office, Mr. Liu Peng was also in attendance at this meeting.