Wednesday, 18th October 2023
Canberra, ACT
Disruption
[Thanks/greetings omitted]
The Australia China Business Council – congratulations on the 50th anniversary year. It is a remarkable achievement, particularly when we put that in the context of the fact that we are just marking still the 50th anniversary of Australia and the People’s Republic of China establishing diplomatic relations.
It was only late in the last year that we gathered in Sydney the Ambassador, Minister Wong, myself, many others in this room and beyond to note that 50th anniversary and of course, the strength of relationship that has been established in the time since. In that time we have seen both Coalition and Labor governments from Australia work with Chinese leadership of the day to take that relationship from one of very small trade, very small exchange, a history of some people to people engagement, but relatively limited to one today that sees that largest trading relationship. That has seen a huge strength of people to people exchange and engagement undertaken throughout that time.
Different governments have taken different steps in terms of the exchanges of leaders between our countries. The notable visits firstly, of course, soon to be marked by then Prime Minister Whitlam, or the hosting, of course, of the first Chinese visits of leaders to Australia, including the first addresses in this Parliament of Chinese leadership hosted by former Prime Minister Howard. And of course, as Peter [Dutton] mentioned, the significant step in terms of our economic relationships, underpinned by the signing of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement under the Abbott government and driven so emphatically by the work of Trade Minister Andrew Robb at the time, who I acknowledge and who – my morning run collided with his morning walk this morning. Canberra is a small place. It was good to see Andrew last night, as it was with many of you, and again this morning.
Those steps have all been incredibly important. They have corresponded with the opening and reform, as Peter [Dutton] mentioned, of China’s economy under Deng Xiaoping. Those of you who have heard me speak at ACBC events before or related events, would have heard me reflect upon what I consider to be the greatest economic and humanitarian miracle of our lifetime, which is the opening up of China. Because that opening up those economic reforms, that opening to the world and to economies around the world has lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty in China and across South East Asia. It has enabled the creation of more wealth, more prosperity that has benefited all of us in this region and the world overall.
I’m proud of the fact that our previous government took the steps of CHAFTA, and indeed, in my time as trade minister worked with China to conclude the world’s largest regional free trade agreement in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between the ten ASEAN nations China, Japan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and Australia. These are the underpinnings of what should be an open and successful trading economic relationship and a deeper engagement across the board. But of course, it’s well acknowledged that we’ve hit some troubles in recent years, and those troubles have been counter-productive to the relationship and to the interests of both nations. It was counterproductive for ministerial dialogue to be ceased. I certainly had wished that had never occurred and was always open, as were Australian government ministers, to ministerial dialogue continuing. I welcome the fact that that ministerial dialogue has resumed, and it is important in terms of its stabilisation of the relationship and in terms of ensuring that we all live up to our obligations, that we have made, our commitments that we have given to one another.
The commitments given to one another under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement under RCEP are important ones, and it again, has been counterproductive to the interests of both nations to see barriers and sanctions imposed on trade that are contrary to the commitments that have been given. Once again, I welcome the fact that China has been taking steps to remove those barriers, to remove those barriers that they put in place that are contrary to agreements given, but to re-establish trade along the lines of the terms entered into under those agreements.
I hope that we will see a full resumption of that trade and a full honouring in both letter and spirit of the terms of the agreements between our countries and particularly hope – as a South Australian Senator who used to work in the wine industry – that that one area still directly affected by those sanctions sees those sanctions removed and removed quickly and completely and unconditionally.
In getting on with business it’s important that we acknowledge the reality of the circumstances in the world in which we work. From an Australian perspective and as the Shadow Foreign Minister now, it’s my view that as a country, we need to engage with consistency, with predictability and with perspective across our relations with China.
Australia always needs to be consistent in terms of reflecting our values and our national interests. Our values are as a proud democracy. We have different systems of government. That doesn’t mean we cannot work together. We have worked together and worked well together with our different systems of government. But we are a proud democracy and will always be so. We are an open market economy. That is what has enabled us to be able to build the type of trading relationship and commercial relationship we have. It is also, along with the network of trade agreements that we have enabled us to withstand and still grow our economy, notwithstanding the interruptions and actions in relation to China’s trade sanctions against Australia.
We are strongly committed to international laws, international rights and basic human rights. These are Australia’s values which are known and understood, and to which we are and will always be committed and need to be consistent in that regard. It is in the way in which we express those values that we should be predictable, because predictability helps to ensure that there are no surprises. In the absence of surprises, helps to ensure that everybody can work through their differences, manage those differences, and achieve optimal outcomes in engagement.
So it is that our interlocutors should always expect Australia to act in accordance with those values, to uphold those values, to express concerns where we see actions taken that give rise to problems or challenges around Australia’s perspective or view of the world. But of course, we need to bring perspective to which is understanding of Chinese culture, understanding of the difference in systems of government, understanding of the need for us both to engage in the world in ways that are true to our own values and to respect that. But ultimately to be driving towards a world and a region that is peaceful, that is stable, that is prosperous, and that respects the sovereignty and rights of all nations. If we can do all of those things and do them together and work in that way. Then I am sure that we can not just write a trade relationship that has been challenged in recent years, but hopefully work to right other aspects of the relationship, to build cooperation in other spheres wherever possible, and to be partners in our region, hopefully for peace, prosperity, stability and respect for the sovereignty and rights of all other partners in our region.
Now to you at the ACBC, you have a huge role to play, as you have throughout your 50 years. In the pursuit of the economic partnership, in the pursuit of the trade relationship and in the underpinning of the people-to-people relations that we have.
So, I look forward, along with Kevin [Hogan] and the rest of our team, to continuing to work with you to grow those trade opportunities, to restore those people-to-people links, and to drive that forward as strongly as possible into the future. We have been proud to engage with you in the past. Your work helps to ensure that Australian businesses, people and our economy is stronger and more prosperous, and it helps to ensure that Chinese businesses, people and economy are stronger and more prosperous. With that, we hope to ensure our region stronger and more prosperous. So, thank you very much for the work that you do. Thank you in particular to the members of the Chinese diaspora in Australia who form part of the ACBC network, because you are real drivers of the relationship between our two countries. We hope to ensure that that perspective I spoke of is well understood in all aspects of our engagement and that we are better, wiser, stronger in terms of how we approach the relationship and maximise the opportunities while addressing the challenges that are there.
[Thanks omitted]
[END]