Premier’s upcoming visit to boost Sino- Aussie ties, support regional integration

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s five- day official visit to Australia, which starts on Wednesday, is expected to boost bilateral relations and cooperation, and push forward free trade and regional integration.

It will be his first visit to the nation in his capacity as Chinese premier. After that, he will visit New Zealand.

Li is expected to seek cooperation spaces for common growth with Australia, in accordance with China’s updated economic outlook and blueprint from the just concluded two sessions.

With extensive common ground and huge potential for cooperation, Australia has been an important economic and trade partner of China. Meanwhile, China has for years ranked top among Australia’s trade partners, as its largest exports market and source of imports and investment.

The two sides have seen deepening economic and trade ties as a result of a free trade deal since December 2015.

Liu Qing, head of the AsiaPacific Department at the China Institute of International Studies, said Li’s visit will bring more opportunities for ChinaAustralia cooperation.

“The two countries have highly complementary economies and development strategies,” he said, expecting to see an alignment between China’s One Belt and One Road initiative and Australia’s ambitious development plan for its north.

Australian Trade Minister Steve Ciobo said earlier that Australian businesses have a keen interest in and want to be part of the Belt and Road initiative.