Since China’s President Xi Jinping passed a revised Environmental Protection Act earlier this year, the government has worked quickly to clean up its act, along with the nation’s notoriously polluted air and water.

China’s “war on pollution” has also been a big benefit to Australian industries.

A trade delegation from South Australia has concluded its trip, and reports that China is keen to hear about Australia’s clean technology and environmental protection systems.

In particular, South Australian water companies will be tapped for their world-leading knowledge and technology, from decades of working on the dry state’s own water woes.

CEO of the Water Industry Alliance, Andy Roberts, says his Chinese counterparts were keen to sign a Memorandum of Understanding, formalise a framework, and work together.

“There is a huge need and a huge interest from China in our knowledge of clean tech to improve the liveability of Shandong,” Roberts said.

“South Australia historically has had to work hard to solve the problem in our own backyard and can use the knowledge gained to improve the environment in Shandong.”

The MoU signed with the Shandong Academy of Environmental Planning opens the door for more business relationships with South Australian water companies.

SA’s own Micromet could be the first company to break through.

Micromet’s CEO got to address a gathering of potential business partners about his company’s continuous flow electrolysis technology, which can quickly and easily alleviate water pollution.

“Normal wastewater treatment cycles take more than 24 hours, but Micromet’s system takes only an hour and the scalable technology can help everything from a 100 person camp to the city of Beijing,” Townsend told a gathering of 240 Chinese companies on the last day of the Shandong-South Australia Cooperation and Development Forum.

Minister for State Development, Investment and Trade Martin Hamilton-Smith says the new MoU will solidify South Australia’s place as a leader in the efficient use of water.

“Economic powerhouses including China, India and the United States are looking to South Australia as a global leader in effective water management and policy,” he said.

“South Australia businesses have a unique opportunity to export this knowledge and expertise to the world.”