AustCham Shanghai wishes members and friends a prosperous Chinese New Year and Australia Day next week.

To celebrate Australia Day in style, all members and guests are welcome for a Sunday session of free-flow drinks, lunch and music on Sunday 12 February, 11am-3pm at Le Meridien She Shan Shanghai. For details and to book tickets click here.

Key activities after the Chinese New Year holiday include the Education Industry Committee planning session on Wednesday 1 February, and a Construction & Property Industry Committee event on the Shanghai property market and regulatory environment on Wednesday 8 February. 

AustCham Shanghai's more than 400 fantastic Members are encouraged to submit special offers, deals and discounts for our newly soon-to-be re-launched 'Mates Rates' Chamber membership card. This is a great opportunity to promote your brand, products and services. Contact Helen Cai for details and click here to see current company offers.

Next week, the AustCham Joint Financial Services Working Group welcomes Clinton Dines, Executive Chairman, Caledonia Asia and former President and CEO of BHP Billiton, China to speak on hedge funds in China on Thursday. For information and to RSVP click here.

Get in quick to book tickets for the not-to-be-missed Australia Day BBQ on Sunday 12 February. This annual highlight celebrates Australia and friends, and brings together the very best of our community.  

AustCham Shanghai celebrates the beginning of 2012 and looks forward to a dynamic year ahead. In Australia this week, the Australian Bureau of Statistics released November 2011 trade data, with the seasonally-adjusted $1.38 billion trade surplus falling short of expectations.

AustCham Greater China will be making a submission to the Australian Government's 'Australia in the Asian Century' White Paper. If you are interested in submitting content or joining a voluntary Working Group to create the submission contact Executive Director Kate Pollitt.

Next week, get involved or send your staff to Chamber events including a Professional Development Series workshop on time management on Wednesday 10 January, and a free labour law consultation on Thursday 11 January. Save the date for our annual Australia Day BBQ on Sunday 12 February. 

AustCham Shanghai celebrates the end of an action-packed year for our Members and friends from all corners of the globe. Read Chair David Keir's Christmas Message here.

We wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas season and a fantastic New Year. Please note the Secretariat office will be closed from Monday 26 December and will re-open on Wednesday 4 January. See you in 2012! 

Heading to Australia for Christmas? Don't forget to use your AustCham Shanghai Membership Card, which gives Gold card holders 15kg extra baggage allowance with Cathay Pacific and Qantas travelling from Shanghai to any destination in Australia. For details and to check out all fantastic Card benefits and discounts click here.

AustCham Shanghai's Linked In group is picking up steam, with more than 115 members participating online. Get involved in discussion on latest industry developments by requesting to join.