BHP Billiton, an Australian-based multinational, appears to be unhappy about Australia's delay in catching up with Belt and Road Initiative's express train. Australian advertisers reported on the 12th that BHP Billiton director BHP Blonhead warned that if strategic concerns prevent Australia from embracing China's "Belt and Road Initiative" initiative, Then Australia is likely to carry the risk of passing by $1 trillion.
According to reports, BHP Billiton director Blonhead said at a business lunch at the East Coast Forum in Brisbane on the 11th that Australia's corporate sector should not just wait for goverment to support the project because countries such as New Zealand and the UK will defeat us. Get profitable projects.
74 countries, including New Zealand, have signed the initiative.
Australia's Queensland Post bluntly points to Australia's entanglement in the face of the Belt and Road Initiative initiative. "Australia's goverment seems to be a day of thinking on the Belt and Road Initiative initiative, depending on whether it is considering trading opportunities or strategic issues," the media quoted Blonhead as saying.
As head of the "Belt and Road Initiative" industrial cooperation center between Australia and China, Blonhead said that the United Kingdom had already seized the Middle East market ahead of Australia in the 1980s. "We will continue to lobby the authorities," he said. But the important thing is that we can't wait any longer. If Australia misses this opportunity, as late as we are in the Middle East, I would hate Australia. The British have a good idea that they can separate strategic concerns from doing business. "
One of the concerns of Australia's goverment, Blonhead said, is that China wants to acquire permanent title to northern Australia's land in order to further advance the "Belt and Road Initiative" initiative. Australia has so far rejected China's initiative to align the initiative with its own North Australian development.
He said the Belt and Road Initiative initiative could provide opportunities for Australia in agriculture, infrastructure and services. It is reported that the Australian Labour Party has sent a signal that, under the future Labour Party goverment, Australia may participate in the plan to witness China, the Asian superpower, invest more in North Australia.
Australia is willing to further strengthen cooperation
In addition, last month, Australian Minister of Trade, Tourism and Investment Steven Chobo said that the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement has played a "key role" in expanding the depth and breadth of bilateral economic, trade and investment relations. Australia is willing to further strengthen cooperation with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.
Australia and China are committed to creating more export and investment opportunities for each other. I think we can fully push forward bilateral economic, trade and investment relations. " Qiao Bo, who attended the 15th China-Australia Ministerial Economic Commission in China, told reporters that since the entry into force of the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement on December 20, 2015, the two sides have carried out three rounds of tariff reduction. Both exporters are using more than 85 percent, and two-way investment has continued to grow rapidly.
Chinese companies received nearly $750 million in tariff relief benefits in Australia in 2016, and Chinese exports of electronic equipment, machinery, clothing, toys and furniture grew strongly, according to data from Australia. In the same period, Australia's exports of Chinese wine, fruit, lobster and so on also showed a significant increase.
In the context of rising protectionist sentiment in some countries, "it is important to recognize and recognize that advancing trade and investment liberalization can help countries gain an edge in development," he said.
For this reason, he said, Australia is willing to work with China to deepen cooperation within the framework of APEC (APEC), the World Trade Organization (WTO) and others. Qiao noted in particular that China's "Belt and Road Initiative" initiative is of great significance to promoting international economic and trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and has also brought enormous business opportunities.
He said that Australia is currently carrying out the "Great Northern Development" program, which has many complementarities with the Belt and Road Initiative initiative. "I can say with great certainty that Australia and China can share knowledge and experience," he said.
