I was recently part of an historic parliamentary delegation to China, which reminded me just how important Australia’s relationship with China is.
Around 30% of people in my electorate of Chisholm have Chinese ancestry. This means that people in our community have strong family ties to China, and many loved ones overseas.
Stabilising our relationship with China has meant the introduction of a 15-Day Visa-Free Policy for business and family visits to China.
I know how important this is for my community – it means that it is easier for Chinese Australians to visit their loved ones in China. There have also been new direct flights from China to Australian cities announced, making travel to China even easier.
China is Australia’s largest trading partner. Trade underpins $1 in every $3 of our economic output.
When the Albanese Labor Government was elected, we inherited $20 billion in trade impediments and a relationship with China that was defined by its differences. With the careful, consistent approach of the Albanese Labor Government, almost all of these trade impediments have been lifted.
Thanks to our government, Australia recorded a record $327 billion in two-way trade with China in 2023. This is good for our economy and good for Australian businesses.
But our government’s work to restore dialogue to Australia’s relationship with China has not just delivered improvements to trade. It’s also meant cooperation on issues related to economics, education, climate change and energy.
Australia’s tourism industry is also benefitting from our approach to China. There have been more than triple the number of Chinese visitors to Australia compared to June 2023. This is good for local businesses that rely on tourism.
Our parliamentary delegation visited China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang during his visit to Canberra in June, following the visit of National Peoples’ Congress Deputy Chair Tie Ning to Australia in August 2023.
The delegation was an important step in further stabilising Australia’s relationship with China and deepening our nation’s people-to-people links.
The delegation visited Beijing and Shanghai in China. We met with Chinese officials and business leaders, discussing our shared interests and raising issues of concern for our Australia and our region.
We also visited important cultural sites in China, including The Great Wall of China and The Forbidden City. It was wonderful to experience this with my friends and colleagues Sam Lim, the Federal Member for Tangey, and Jerome Laxale, the Federal Member for Bennelong. It was incredibly special to me to visit these great locations, and I will remember these important moments for the rest of my life.
Since I’ve been back in my community after the delegation, I have been reflecting on the significance of this parliamentary delegation, and the progress that the Albanese Labor Government has made.
Our government has re-opened dialogue with China, which China closed under the Liberal National Government.
We might hear a different tone from Mr Dutton these days, but I know much of the Chinese-Australian community remembers how difficult that period was.
Dialogue and engagement between Australia and China ensures we can navigate our differences, but not let ourselves be defined by them.
A stable relationship with China means that we can have productive and respectful conversations about important issues.
Our approach has ensured we have not comprised on what matters to Australians – like national security and human rights – but also enabled us to unlock $20 billion worth of trade in wine, barley, beef, lobster, and other exports.
I’m proud to be part of a government that is stabilising our country’s relationship with China. I know that this is important not just for our national interest, but for people in my community in Chisholm, and for Chinese Australians across the country.
