15 April 2008
Trade Minister Visit to China
I will visit Beijing and Shanghai 16-20 April for meetings with senior Chinese government and party leaders.
My visit will build on the momentum in the free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations created by the Prime Minister in his meeting with the Chinese Premier last week. China has agreed to unfreeze negotiations, and I will work with my Chinese counterpart Minister Chen Deming to identify problems and possible solutions, and decide on a work program that will increase the intensity of negotiations.
In Beijing, I will co-chair with my counterpart minister the Joint Ministerial Economic Commission (JMEC). JMEC is the primary bilateral forum for advancing our trade interests with China, including our important trade in resources, agriculture, and increasingly services.
The Australian Government is committed to concluding a high-quality, comprehensive FTA with China that brings real benefits to Australian industry.
Expanding our trade in services, across a range of sectors, will be one focus of my discussions. I will also finalise arrangements for the new Ministerial-led Services Roundtable, which the Prime Minister and Chinese Premier agreed to establish.
In my meetings in Beijing, I will seek China’s support for progress in the WTO Doha Round. Australia firmly believes in the benefits of global trade liberalisation. China, as a major global trading nation, can help bring Doha to a successful conclusion by encouraging developing countries to get on board. I will also discuss APEC and the East Asian Summit, including proposals to encourage further trade liberalisation in the Asia-Pacific.
In both Beijing and Shanghai, I will meet key Chinese business leaders and members of the Australian business community in China. In Beijing, I will launch “Business Club Australia”, Austrade’s trade and investment promotion program for the Olympic Games.
China is Australia’s largest overall trading partner, our second largest export market both for goods (including agriculture), and our third largest market for services. Two-way trade was $54.7 billion in 2006-07. Two-way investment is small but growing rapidly and offers significant potential for mutual benefit.
Media Inquiries: Mr Crean's office 02 6277 7420 - Departmental Media Liaison 02 6261 1555