China and Australia ready for ‘more productive’ relationship, Beijing’s ambassador says
Xiao Qian tells trade expo in Melbourne that the two nations can ‘fully complement each other’s strengths’ when boosting economic ties
China and Australia are ready to “move beyond” stabilising relations and aim for “more productive” economic cooperation, according to Beijing’s ambassador Xiao Qian.
There could be a “closer alignment” between the Australian mining and Chinese manufacturing sectors through “joint exploration, technology sharing and capacity enhancement”, Xiao told a trade expo on Thursday.
He said both countries had “highly compatible” development strategies and “can fully complement each other’s strengths, collaborate in a coordinated manner and jointly build green, secure and sustainable” industrial chains.
China has been Australia’s largest trading partner, export market and source of imports for the past 16 years.
However, after ties soured in 2019 and 2020, Australian goods were hit by a series of export curbs that Beijing only lifted at the end of last year.