Wang Xining, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Australia has said that China oppose the revival of unilateralism and trade protectionism and against undermining international rules and instigating anti-globalization by certain countries out of selfish motives, which have posed a major source for today’s global instability and world disorder.
Addressing the opening session of the Third Sino-Australian Entrepreneurs Summit on Tuesday, he declared that exceptionalism is anachronistic, and it will hurt everyone including those who adopt it.
Former Prime Minister of Australia, Mr John Howard and former Minister for Trade and Investment, Mr. Andrew Robb also attended the event.
He told the participants that China, as the world’s largest developing economy has been consistent in advocating multilateralism, free trade, open economy and win-win partnership.
“We play a constructive role in building “Belt and Road”, promoting RCEP and FTAAP, expediting Asia-Pacific economic integration, and facilitating WTO reforms”.
Referring ever growing China-Australia business and economic ties, Charge d’Affaires said economic cooperation and trade serves as both ballast and propeller of China-Australia relationship.
“Our economies are highly complementary by nature, and our economic and trade ties have been close and strong, ha said adding for many years, China has been Australia’s largest trading partner, export destination and source of import.
According to Australian statistics, China-Australia merchandise trade in the first half of this year reached 108 billion AUD, a year-on-year increase of 22%. Australia’s export to China was 71 billion dollars, an increase of 29%. Import from China was AUD 37 billion, an increase of 10%. And there are still vast potentials waiting to be tapped.
The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement continues to bring dividends as more than 5,400 Australian products exported became tariff free following the fifth round of tariff cuts from January 1 this year.
He told the participants that due to CHAFTA, finally, Australians beats the French in exporting wine to China. The abattoirs will be busy sending beef to China.
Highlighting Chinese policy for global development, Mr Wang Xining argued that in today’s world, countries are locked together in pursuit of interest and the humanity will share the same future. Peaceful development and win-win cooperation are the only choice in time of unstoppable globalization.
“China and Australia are both major countries in Asia-Pacific region. There is no historical grievance or conflict of fundamental interest between us”, Mr Wang Xining said.
He pointed that China and Australia share many common interests. We both advocate multilateralism, free trade and open world economy. We both cherish our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and wish it to grow. This is the consensus reached between Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison during their recent meeting in Bangkok.
A healthy and stable bilateral relationship not only serves our interests but also contributes to Asia-Pacific prosperity and stability.
“We will be able to make this partnership work better if we could view each other’s development path and social system with rational thinking and respect, if we could perceive each other’s growth as an opportunity rather than a threat, if we could view our cross-board collaborations with confidence and trust instead of bias and suspicion”, he remarked.
China oppose the revival of unilateralism He hoped that the entrepreneurs will continue to be the leaders in industrial upgrading, technical innovation and social development, and make contributions to strengthening China-Australia relationship and promoting regional and global prosperity.
