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China-Australia trade expo showcases world class products, investment
opportunities
MELBOURNE, July 12, 2019 (BSS/Xinhua) – Over 200 top brands are on display
at the 2019 Australia-China Economic Trade and Investment Expo (ACETIE) which
officially opened here on Friday.
Food and wine, finance, technology, e-commerce and tourism, among many
others, are on show, providing business representatives a broad range of
opportunities.
As an extensive exhibition of products, ACETIE involves conferences and
networking opportunities to increase mutual understanding and cooperation.
In his opening address, ACETIE committee Chair and former Australian
Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb welcomed a record number of
attendees.
“We are delighted to see that this significant event is becoming a most
representative and influential trade exchange platform,” Robb said.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews described his state as Australia’s
“gateway to China,” reinforced by strong trade, cultural and personal
connections.
“This event is a timely opportunity to broaden those trade and economic
links between our region, and strengthen our already solid friendship,” he
said in a congratulatory message to the expo.
In a message to attendees, China’s Consul General in Melbourne Long Zhou
said that China is a crucial trading partner and an important investor for
both the state of Victoria and for Australia.
“Based on mutual respect and mutual benefit, the economic and trade
partnership between the two sides has borne fruitful results in recent
years,” Long said.
Robb told Xinhua that he believed the commercial relationship between
Australia and China has never been better, largely based on a strong desire
for both countries’ products.
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“What China does best we want and what we do best China wants,” Robb said.
“We’ve got very, very complementary economies, and that has led to an
extraordinary two-way trade between our countries.”
As the federal minister for trade from 2013 to 2016, Robb was instrumental
in the signing of a free trade agreement between Australia and China which
came into effect in 2015.
He said that the success of free trade between Australia and China can set
a strong example for the rest of the world in a time of emerging
protectionism and isolationism.
As of the beginning of 2019, there were zero tariffs in Australia facing
imports from China, and similarly 98 percent of imports from Australian to
China are tariff free.
“This has been a huge factor accelerating the growth between our two
countries,” Robb said.
“For instance, clean green agricultural produce trade has increased by 37
percent in the three and a half years since this trade agreement really took
effect.”
ACTIE will run until Sunday and feature addresses by top dignitaries and
business representatives from Australia and China.
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