Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Health Brad Hazzard have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding between NSW Health and the Guangdong Health and Family Planning Commission while in the Chinese province of Guangdong.

The MOU, which focuses on enhancing cooperation in medical research and innovation, has been agreed to on the Premier’s first trade mission to China.

“This year marks the 38th year of the NSW Sister-State relationship with Guangdong Province and this agreement once again shows just how important Guangdong is to our State,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“China is one of NSW’s most important economic partners, with NSW goods exports to the country totalling $7.2 billion in 2016-17.

“That figure is forecast to grow on the back of initiatives such as this new Health MOU and a push from local health providers such as the NSW family care business Tresillian which is now looking to establish itself in China.”

Tresillian CEO Robert Mills, who is in China, said the non-profit organisation employs about 260 staff across seven centres in NSW and they are now working to establish a curriculum for child and family health nurses in China.

“Tresillian has delivered around 80,000 service contacts in the last year, including residential in-patient admissions, where families stay at a Tresillian Centre for 4-5 nights,” Mr Mills said.

“Our universal goal is helping children and families, which we will look to also now do in China, and our second goal will be to generate additional revenue so we can help more families back in NSW.”

The non-profit organisation is embarking on its next challenge as it celebrates 100 years of successful operation in NSW next year.

“With 17 million babies born each year in China, Tresillian has come on the trade mission as part of the business delegation to offer its services to Chinese parents, which is a huge potential market,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“This MOU will also provide greater opportunity for two-way trade and professional health care development for many other NSW organisations and businesses in the future.”