ABSTRACT
Although a modest player on the world stage, Australia holds a not insignificant position in the Asia-Pacific region. Diplomatic ties with China resumed in 1972, but Australia had been selling much needed wheat to the People’s Republic since the early years of the Chinese Communist Party and traders had been visiting Canton since the mid-1960s. The first trade agreement between the two countries, and a Joint Trade Committee to review trade development annually, were established in 1973 during a visit to China by Prime Minister Whitlam. All subsequent Australian Prime Ministers have visited China and increasingly senior Chinese government members have reciprocated, culminating in the presidential visit of Jiang Zemin in 1999. As members of the national governments became acquainted, Australian states and cities began to establish Sister-state and Sister-city relationships in China and investment began to flow towards China and also, gradually, into Australia. Supported by these relationship, since 1973 Australian-Chinese business relations have grown in complexity with increasing confidence.
