中国首富王健林将向澳洲房地产投资17亿澳元

中国首富王健林承诺向澳洲房地产投资125亿元港币（17亿澳元），包括耗资达9亿元的黄金海岸海景度假酒店。

房地产专家称这个交易可能预示着中国在澳洲房地产投资的新开端。

王健林是在香港上市的万达集团主席，由于房地产价格的反弹，去年他首次登上福布斯中国富人榜首位。

万达集团在香港股票交易所的声明中表示，集团将通过内部资源以及债券和股权形式向新的度假酒店，被称为是The Jewel的酒店注资。

王健林的万达集团已经在全球大举收购，包括伦敦的高楼，美国影院公司AMC Entertainment，以及圣汐克游艇公司。

The Jewel已经获得州政府的批准，将建造三座高楼，包括了一个度假酒店，公寓楼，办公楼和录音工作室，餐馆和咖啡厅。占地面积达到14万7千平方米。

万达集团的这个决定代表了中国投资者的金融购买力，以及他们对今后十年中国旅游者高度增长的预期。

China’s richest man Wang Jianlin commits $1.7b to Australian real estate

China’s richest man, Wang Jianlin, has committed $HK12.5billion ($1.7billion) to invest in Australian real estate including the construction of a $900million beachfront resort on the Gold Coast.

Property experts say the deal could herald a new dawn of Chinese property investment in Australia.

Mr Wang, the chairman of the Hong Kong-listed Wanda Group, took over the top spot on the Forbes China Rich List for the first time last year after a rebound in property prices.

In a statement to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange Wanda Group said it would pay for the new resort, known as The Jewel, through internal resources and a mixture of debt and equity.

Mr Wang’s Wanda has already been on a global buying spree picking up London high rises as well as US movie chain AMC Entertainment and ­Sunseeker yachts.

The Jewel has state approval for up to three high-rise buildings containing a resort hotel, apartments, office and recording studio, restaurants and cafes. The site can accommodate a total building area of up to 147,000 square meters.

The decision by Wanda represents the financial power of the Chinese investors and their expectation of ­exponential growth in Chinese tourists over the next decade.

Chinese tourist spending rising rapidly

Tourism & Transport Forum chief executive Trent Zimmerman said the number of Chinese visitors to ­Queensland grew faster than the national average in 2013, rising by 16per cent to more than 300,000.

“Importantly, spending by Chinese visitors to Queensland grew even faster, up about 28per cent on the previous year,” he said.

“These are critical factors inthedecisions we are seeing from ­Chinese investors.”

Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb welcomed Wanda’s decision which follows on from the explosive investment by Chinese real estate companies in residential property in Australia over the last 12 months.

“The addition of a new luxury ­Chinese hotel brand to the Australian market will have benefits across ­Australia’s tourism industry,” he said.

Mr Robb said the Wanda Group had identified Australia as a priority market for future investment following participation in an investment round table during Australia Week in China.

Wanda’s decision to invest on the Gold Coast follows commitments from investors such as ASF Group, which is leading a consortium backed by Chinese investors to build a cruiseship terminal and resort.

Chinese property developer Greenland Holdings Group also teamed up with James Packer’s Crown Resorts last month in a bid to build a new casino and entertainment complex in Brisbane.