Premier Li Qiang pushes China’s trade, academic agenda during Asia-Pacific tour

China fortified its partnerships from trade to academic collaborations in the Asia-Pacific region during Premier Li Qiang’s recent visits to New Zealand, Australia and Malaysia, with attention centring around exchanges between Beijing and Canberra.

Unlike New Zealand and Malaysia that employ a relatively mild approach towards China, Australia – as a more vocal member of the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance with Canada, New Zealand, Britain and the US – is seeking to strike a balance between addressing security concerns and economic development with the world’s second-largest economy.

“The visit … by Chinese Premier Li Qiang is a reminder of an old dilemma at the heart of Australia’s engagement with China: how to maintain trade and economic relationships with a country that is not a security partner,” said Angela Lehman, head of research at the Lygon Group consulting firm and chair of the non-profit Foundation for Australian Studies in China.

Australian businessmen welcomed the warming relationship with China, highlighted by the first visit by a Chinese premier in seven years as well as a series of on-the-ground collaborations.

“The feeling is positive after the visit by the Chinese premier,” said Andrew Ferguson, managing director at seafood provider Ferguson Australia.

“It’s believed that the ban will be lifted shortly, so we are told.”

Ferguson added that “a number of interested potential Chinese customers” had made contact.

During Li’s trip, the Melbourne-based Australia China Agribusiness Association also received a delegation from Chengdu, and both sides signed several export and import agreements.

“[We] help Chengdu to export oranges, kiwi fruits, apples and other fruits to Southeast Asian countries,” said Wilton Yao,