SYDNEY, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- "China is our largest trading partner, but I think we can do more with China," Don Farrell, Australia's Minister for Trade and Tourism, told Xinhua in a recent interview.
China is Australia's largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching 326 billion Australian dollars (about 230 billion U.S. dollars) in 2025.
Farrell said the Australian government encourages companies to go to China to seek new trading opportunities through the upcoming 9th China International Import Expo (CIIE).
Having attended the CIIE five times, Farrell sees it as a valuable platform for Australian companies to show their products, build relationships, and better understand the Chinese market.
According to Farrell, the CIIE is a good opportunity and the government is supporting Australian businesses to seize the opportunity and bolster the relationship.
This year, Nearly 190 Australian companies are set to participate, marking the largest Australian presence at the CIIE to date. The Australian pavilion will showcase a range of Australian products, including foods, dairy products, meat, seafood, wine and beverages, as well as health and consumer goods.
"We are confident it will be the beginning of many new connections and a source of many opportunities for Australian businesses in China," he said.
This year's participation in the CIIE is bolstered by the Australian government's Accessing New Markets Initiative, a 55 million Australian dollars (about 39 million U.S. dollars) program to help Australian businesses diversify into new markets and to capitalize on growth opportunities in established markets.
The initiative supports businesses seeking to participate in industry events in China, Farrell said.
"So I think the opportunities are there," he said. "And the Accessing New Markets Initiative gives us a way of encouraging Australian companies to go to China to look for new trading opportunities." ■
