Over the next two days, I will meet with key Chinese counterparts in Beijing.
This is another important step towards stabilising our economic relationship with China.
It will be the first visit by an Australian Treasurer to China in seven years.
These meetings are part of the Albanese Labor Government’s methodical and coordinated efforts to re‑establish dialogue with China, Australia’s largest trading partner.
The main purpose is to co‑chair the 2024 Australia‑China Strategic Economic Dialogue with Zheng Shanjie, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission, on Thursday 26 September.
Our relationship with China is full of complexity and opportunity.
We recognise a more stable economic relationship between Australia and China is a good thing for Australian workers, businesses, investors and our country more broadly.
That’s why in the last week I have consulted directly with the chairs, CEOs and senior executives of major China‑facing Australian employers, including Rio Tinto, Wesfarmers, BHP, Woodside, Fortescue, Macquarie, BlueScope, HSBC, King & Wood Mallesons, the Port of Newcastle, Sydney Airport, Cochlear, the University of New South Wales, GrainCorp and the Business Council of Australia.
Dialogue and engagement gives us the best chance to properly manage and maximise these important links.
Our approach to China has been to cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in Australia’s national interest.
The Strategic Economic Dialogue has not been convened since 2017 but our Government has agreed with Chinese counterparts to restart it.
I’ll also be meeting with other counterparts from the Chinese Government during my two days of engagements.
My meetings in China build on Prime Minister Albanese’s engagements in November 2023 and Premier Li Qiang’s meetings in Australia in June 2024.
We recognise that there’s a lot at stake and a lot to gain from the relationship with China.
We’ve got an opportunity to make sure both countries benefit from the continued complementarity of our economies, while protecting Australia’s interests.