Eighty travel agents, delegates and suppliers from across Australia flew business class with China Southern Airlines to attend Orient Express Travel Group's third annual 1ndependence Forum in Guangzhou last week.

Themed 'All Talk, All Action', the forum combined presentations by financial commentator Michael Pascoe and partner airlines with a cruise on the Pearl River, city sightseeing and plenty of Cantonese dining.

As a major partner sponsor for the first time, China Southern's CEO Tan Wangeng marked the occasion by giving Orient Express CEO Tom Manwaring a special gift of a bronze tripod which was used in ancient times by Chinese royalty to drink wine.