TOURISM AUSTRALIA is the latest company to partner with the historic first AFL Premiership Season game in China.

Port Adelaide chief executive Keith Thomas welcomed the announcement by the AFL in Shanghai.

“This is another fantastic endorsement of our game in Shanghai,” Mr Thomas said.

“We’re very proud to be promoting not just the AFL and Australia’s Game, but Australian tourism as well.

“Our Open to the World campaign is generating significant interest from Australian business in China.

"Our pre-game Taste of Australia festival is the perfect place to promote everything that’s great about our country and Tourism Australia is a natural fit for that event."

The announcement in Shanghai was made by the AFL's general manager of football operations Mark Evans, with federal tourism minister the Hon Steve Ciobo MP.

The partnership will see Tourism Australia branding appear above the playing numbers on the Power's and Suns' playing guernseys.

“We have a great history of friendship between our two countries, but as someone who grew up in the Ballarat area, I'm pleased to know that the connection between the Chinese community and Australian Football goes back to the late 1800s in the Goldfields of Victoria,” Mr Evans said.

“With two teams of Chinese nationals - who had come to Australia to seek their fortune mining gold – competing in a match of Australian Rules Football in front of a largely European crowd, it is a brilliant early example of how sport has the ability to bring people together.

CEO Keith Thomas with officials at the @TourismAus @AFL partnership announcement in Shanghai today! #weareportadelaide pic.twitter.com/ZszGGsYSVq — Port Adelaide FC (@PAFC) February 22, 2017

“With Tourism Australia's support, we have the ability to showcase Australia and Australia's Game to our friends here in China.

“This important friendship is worth investing in and we see our game as a great way in bringing Australia and China closer together. This is the first time the AFL will play a Toyota AFL Premiership Season match outside Australia and New Zealand and marks a significant moment in our game, and our country."

Port Adelaide plays Gold Coast at Jiangwan Stadium on May 14.

More on portadelaidefc.com.au