Australia’s Relationship with China Lotus Killerby

Trade Australia and China share a strong and rapidly growing trade and economic relationship. Further strengthening and deepening this relationship is a major priority for both countries, with both governments committed to sustaining the impressive trade and investment performance achieved in the past two decades. In that time, China has become Australia’s largest two-way trading partner and vital to Australia’s future economic prosperity. Key interests and benefits The removal or reduction of the tariff and non-tariff barriers affecting bilateral trade in goods, which could, in particular, reduce transaction costs and improve efficiency. Reduction or removal of regulatory barriers which restrict services in order to support improved trade flows across goods and services of interest to both economies. implementation of measures to encourage more foreign investment between Australia and China, providing a firm foundation for the future economic relationship.

Aid Australia began accepting Chinese students for tertiary education in 1986 in English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students. In the aftermath of Tiananmen Square protests of 1989, the Australian government granted protection for many Chinese students in Australia. Since then, Australia has become one of the biggest market for Chinese students for tertiary education. In early 2011, there were over 126,000 Chinese students in Australia and they made up 26% of the total foreign students. As of September 2011, there were 150,000 Chinese students studying at Australia tertiary institutions. The Australian education export market was worth 2009/10 A$19 billion dollars.

Migration Mainland China continues to remain the biggest country from which immigrants come to Australia as it has overtaken the United Kingdom to become its largest source immigrants since Some Chinese immigrants in Australia have established special schools where the education system is built to resemble that in China, with results more focused on exams. Some Chinese parents also choose to send their children to special training classes outside school, particularly Chinese schools. China is Australia's biggest two-way trading partner due to its proximity as migrants from China jumped a fifth to nearly 30,000 out of Australia's total annual intake of 168,685 as skilled immigrants deliver significant benefits as the Chinese immigrants contribute to economic growth and their relative youth offsets some of the impacts of an ageing labour force in Australia.

Tourism There were 626,400 visitors from China for calendar year 2012, an increase of 15.6 per cent relative to Visitors from China generated $4.2 billion in total expenditure in The Tourism 2020 Strategy estimates that China has the potential to grow to between $7.4 billion and $9 billion in total expenditure by There were 176,600 visitors from Hong Kong for calendar year 2012, an increase of 6.2 per cent relative to Hong Kong was Australia’s 11th largest inbound market for total expenditure in 2012, with $0.8 billion spent on trips to Australia.

Defence Australia’s defence engagement with China aims to improve mutual understanding, foster open communication, and to enhance cooperation. In April 2013, the Prime Minister announced a strengthening of our bilateral defence links with China through increased defence cooperation between the Australian Defence Force and the People’s Liberation Army to build trust, confidence and transparency for the future. Over the past few years, we have strengthened our defence relationship with China through senior-level dialogue, educational exchanges, reciprocal naval ship visits, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises. Indicative of the importance both countries place on bilateral defence ties, in December 2012 the Chief of the Defence Force travelled to Beijing to meet his counterpart, General Fang Fenghui, Chief of the General Staff of the People's Liberation Army, to conduct the 15th annual Defence Strategic Dialogue. The Dialogue agreed a robust forward program of defence engagement including practical exercises, strategic policy discourse, maritime engagement, and opportunities to deepen people-to-people links at all levels.