Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers is making history with his upcoming visit to China, marking the first visit by a federal treasurer to the country in seven years. This visit is seen as a crucial step in stabilizing ties with Australia’s largest trading partner.
During his visit to Beijing on Thursday and Friday, Chalmers is scheduled to meet with key Chinese economic officials to discuss important economic matters.
This meeting comes at a time when diplomatic relations between Australia and China have been improving, with economic sanctions on Australian goods like wine and barley being eased.
Chalmers emphasized the significance of this visit, stating that it aims to strengthen the relationship between the two nations.
“This is part of our effort to stabilize a really important economic relationship,” he mentioned in an interview with Sky News.
Additionally, this visit will be the first time an Australian treasurer has visited China since Scott Morrison’s visit in 2017.
Chalmers highlighted the importance of fostering a stable economic relationship between Australia and China for the benefit of workers, businesses, investors, and the country as a whole.
During the two-day visit, the treasurer will engage in discussions with officials from China’s National Development and Reform Commission, with a focus on Australia’s strategic economic dialogue with China.
While Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been engaging with world leaders in the United States to address Beijing’s influence in the Indo-Pacific region, Chalmers stressed the importance of managing economic ties with China alongside other regional complexities.
“Stabilizing the relationship with China is a very key economic priority. We can do that while we manage the complexities in the region,” he explained.
Chalmers expressed optimism about the potential benefits of engaging with China and working towards a more stable economic relationship between the two countries.
