Former Australian prime minister John Howard said he was surprised that all australians were suggesting phasing out the country’s coal industry in a speech to a conference of Chinese and Australian entrepreneurs. ‘this is one of our biggest assets,’ he said at the china-australia business summit. Exports of iron ore and coal are the foundation of our trade relationship with China.”
Despite the huge benefits of growing ties, it is important to recognise that Australia and China have very different political systems. Former trade minister Andrew Robb, who negotiated the china-australia free trade agreement, also spoke. He said in his speech that he is very optimistic about china-australia relations.
