MEDIA RELEASE
THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR TRADE
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MEDIA RELEASE THE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER FOR TRADE |
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970901a
The importance of Australia's growing trade links with China will be highlighted when Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Tim Fischer, meets with senior Chinese officials and opens the Australia-China Business Forum in Beijing next month.
Mr Fischer will be in China at the invitation of Executive Vice-Premier Zhu Rongji from September 8 - 9. The visit will provide an important opportunity to progress negotiations with China on its accession to the World Trade Organisation (WTO).
"My meetings with Chinese leaders will enable me to reaffirm the Government's commitment to a strong and positive relationship with China.
"The Australia-China Business Forum will provide an excellent opportunity to showcase participating Australian companies, with a special focus on telecommunications and information technology, financial services, transport and distribution, and food processing."
In Europe, Mr Fischer will represent Australia at the annual Ministerial Consultations with the European Commission on 11 September, attend the first Australia-Europe Dialogue in Brussels, co-chair the first meeting of the Australia-Italy Economic and Cultural Council in Rome on 12 September, and pay an official visit to Spain from 13-15 September
Mr Fischer said the Brussels consultations will enable pursuit of a range of bilateral trade interests as well as issues on the multilateral trade agenda.
Australia's relations with Italy, our second largest market in the EU, will also be given new impetus. A special business forum will enable senior Australian and Italian business people to identify ways of expanding trade and investment, and cooperation in third markets.
Mr Fischer's visit to Spain provides an opportunity to stimulate Australia's trade and investment relationship with the world's ninth largest economy. Bilateral trade is substantial at A$780 million.
Australia's historic and symbolic links with Europe will not be forgotten when Mr Fischer unveils a World War One memorial plaque in northern France on 10 September. He will also call on His Holiness Pope John Paul II on 13 September.
1 September 1997
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