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China Southern Airlines has announced that it will sponsor Sydney Festival for the next three years from 2013.
The announcement was made by Tan Wan'geng, Executive Vice President of China Southern Air Holding Company and President and Chief Executive of China Southern Airlines, on his arrival in Sydney on the eve of Sydney Festival's Symphony in the Domain, one of the 2012 events supported by the airline.
Tan explained "China Southern's $600,000 sponsorship of Sydney Festival 2012 was the airline's largest single marketing initiative in the Australian market, and came about because the airline saw Australia not just as a very important source of travellers to China but also to the rest of the world on its global network.
"China Southern will also continue the sponsorship of the Sydney Festival for the next three years."
In July 2011, while leading a delegation to China for a Joint Economic Meeting between NSW and Guangdong province, NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell announced that China Southern would join Sydney Festival as Official Airline and Leadership Partner for the 2012 Festival. This commitment made the airline the first significant overseas based sponsor and the first by a Chinese company.
Commenting on the extension of China Southern Airline's sponsorship, Premier Mr O'Farrell stated "(I am) delighted that the strong foundations laid during the 2012 Festival have led to such an immediate and substantial renewal of the airline's commitment.
"The announcement to continue the sponsorship recognises the positive outcomes and future potential of this partnership with one of the Asia Pacific region's key cultural events, and Australia largest performing arts festival."
As Official Airline for Sydney Festival 2012, the partnership with China Southern Airlines focused on support for The Domain Concert Series alongside co-sponsor ANZ and Sydney Festival's Principal Sponsor, Zip Industries. The Airline's other associations include the Ferrython on Sydney Harbour on Australia Day.
Lieven Bertels, incoming Festival Director of Sydney Festival 2013-2015 added, "we are thrilled with the opportunity this brings to invite Cantonese performing arts to the Sydney Festival and to share China's rich cultural heritage with our audience.
"Through this extended collaboration Guangzhou will become an increasingly important gateway into Asia for Australian arts lovers."
Guangzhou-based China Southern Airlines (code CZ) has operated into Australia for more than 10 years.
It now flies twice daily between Sydney and Guangzhou, twice daily from Melbourne, four times a week from Brisbane and three times a week from Perth. It also offers daily direct services from Guangzhou to Auckland. China Southern Airlines is a proud member of SkyTeam and SkyTeam Cargo. China Southern operates the largest airline fleet in Asia and with more than 80 million passengers carried in 2011 it is the third largest carrier in the world.
The Sydney Festival 2012 continues until 29th January.

http://www.sydneyfestival.org.au

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