President Xi Jinping launched the Belt and Road Initiative in 2013,immediately winning over many foreign governments with promises of unprecedented investment.
The premier’s office is working closely with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade on the visit,but the trade mission is still expected to cause some concern.
Transport department advised government to continue with purchase of train parts from Chinese supplier because it would cost too much to find different contractor.
Australia’s national interests are better served by having more Chinese-speakers yet exchange programs and courses are hanging in the balance.
The Victorian government refused to provide the memorandum of understanding to The Age on the basis that the agreement included information disclosed by the Chinese government to Victoria “with an expectation of confidentiality”.
Had Daniel Andrews consulted more widely as he pursued a Belt and Road agreement with the Chinese government,he might have been told the politics on China was rapidly changing.
Victoria’s $13 billion international education trade looks well set to withstand Australia’s deteriorating relationship with China.
The cancelling of Victoria’s deal with China is not costless - and we do not know yet how Beijing might retaliate - but the economic damage to Australia from sanctions it has already imposed have been far less than many feared.
National security experts and federal Labor have welcomed the Morrison government’s decision to tear up Victoria’s Belt and Road deal with China,but warn of the possible fallout.
The opposition is seeking access to advice provided to the Transport Infrastructure Minister that rejected claims a Chinese company building Melbourne’s new train fleet benefited from Uighur labour.
The Commonwealth will probe a third deal between the Andrews government and China to advance public-private partnerships for infrastructure projects,signed separately to Victoria’s controversial Belt and Road deal.