Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue

Tomorrow I will co-chair the fourth Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Canberra.

Our annual dialogue is an opportunity to discuss the full breadth of issues in our bilateral relationship in a frank and respectful manner, as well as key regional and global issues of mutual concern.

Australia and China already share a comprehensive strategic partnership.

China is our largest trading partner with two-way trade worth $150 billion in 2015-16. More Chinese students and tourists enter into Australia than from any other country. By the end of 2017, more than 2600 young Australian undergraduate students will have spent time living, working and studying in mainland China under the New Colombo Plan.

Australia and China are strengthening our bilateral defence relationship through senior-level dialogues, educational exchanges, reciprocal naval ship visits, and humanitarian assistance and disaster relief exercises.

We are both members of key global and regional institutions and groupings such as the G20 and the East Asia Summit.

This visit to Australia by Foreign Minister Wang will contribute to our mutual efforts to deepen and broaden Australia-China ties.