Op-Ed Contributors

Gillard's first Asian tour

By Han Feng (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-04-27 07:59
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After some setbacks and difficulties in 2009, Sino-Australian ties are now back on the track, but Canberra is yet to set out its comprehensive policy and strategy toward Beijing.

To effectively tackle the global financial crisis, China and Australia should strengthen both bilateral and regional cooperation and enhance communication and coordination on a series of major issues.

The traditional economic complementariness of China and Australia and their trade and investment expansion are no longer enough to ensure the development of a much-needed all-round bilateral relationship. It is essential that they expand the scope of bilateral cooperation and deepen their cooperation to strengthen future ties.

To this end, the two countries should expand mutual cultural and non-governmental exchanges and cooperation, and tap their cooperation potential in culture, education, science and technology, and healthcare, to enhance mutual understanding and increase the stability of bilateral ties.

At the same time, greater cooperation in agriculture, the dairy sector, animal husbandry, forestry and food processing, in which both enjoy certain advantages, should also be pursued.

Considering their common interests and the common challenges they face in regional finance, monetary and fiscal policies as well as crisis management, China and Australia should also strive to expand cooperation to fend off risks.

Despite their different ideologies, China and Australia are both in the Asia-Pacific region and both need regional stability and prosperity. Currently, regional security in the Asia-Pacific region is undergoing some profound changes, which makes it particularly important for China and Australia to enhance mutual trust and increase security cooperation as a way to promote a peaceful and secure Asia-Pacific region.

During Gillard's visit to China, some political issues, on which Canberra has long been hoping to play the bridge between the East and West, are very likely to be touched upon. However, due to their huge differences in political systems, democratic models and human rights, no major consensus on these issues is expected within such a short period of time.

The issue of China's deferred investment in Australia is also likely to be raised during Gillard's visit. Canberra has long been ambivalent toward China's Australia-bound investment, fearing that Beijing's expanded investment, which is mainly focused on energy and resources, will worsen its environment and cause its economic lifeline to be controlled by the Asian giant.

In a weak government, Gillard has had to take stances to gain support. However, her remarks, when she attended an Anzac Day dawn service in Seoul before heading for Beijing and said Australians need to remember the Korean War (1950-1953), were inappropriate.

Gillard made Japan the first leg of her Asian tour, her predecessor Kevin Rudd skipped Japan during his tour in 2008.

Australia's China policy is still evolving, but Gillard's diplomacy seems to be moving in a conservative direction.

The author is deputy director of the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

China Forum

(China Daily 04/27/2011 page8)

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