The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is to establish a new foundation to strengthen Australia’s relationship with China.
The National Foundation for Australia-China Relations was announced by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Marise Payne who said it would be a high profile platform that would “harness efforts of the private sector, peak bodies, NGOs, cultural organisations, State and Federal Agencies and the Chinese-Australian community to turbo-charge our national effort in engaging China”.
Senator Payne said the foundation would be built on the pioneering work of the Australia-China Council.
“For more than 40 years, the Council has been at the forefront of strengthening the Australia-China bilateral relationship,” Senator Payne said.
“However, the remit and resourcing of the Council have remained static even as China has transformed and our bilateral ties have dramatically expanded in breadth and complexity.”
She said the new body would have substantially increased funding, enabling it to engage on a much broader scale than the Council.
“The new body will move beyond the Council’s current focus on education, culture and the arts, to also promote Australian excellence in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, health and ageing and the environment and energy,” Senator Payne said.
“The Foundation will also provide practical support and expertise to Australian stakeholders developing links and exchanges with counterparts in China.”
She said the current chair of the Australia-China Council, Warwick Smith would serve as the inaugural chair of the foundation.
“Preparatory work on the establishment of the Foundation has commenced and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade will consult State Governments, business and community organisations in coming weeks,” the Minister said.
