China Poses No Threat To Australia

Beijing’s ambass­ador to Canberra, Ma Zhaoxu, declared that Australia need not see China as a “threat” and expressed his intention to expand the existing economic, military and security ties in order to build up mutual trust. “We enjoy tremendous common interests between our two countries,” he said.

The announcements came after the release of a report on the ANZUS alliance, which stated about China’s growing naval power and threatened to bring Canberra within range of its long-range missiles. He said at a ceremony that the relationship between the two countries was like “two wheels on a cart” that couldn’t function without the other.

Ma even went to the extent of urging new entrepreneurs to invest in new businesses and promised to work closely with Australia so as to make them aware of the benefits and opportunities. According to the Australian, he has asked the entrepreneurs to read the Free-Trade Agreement thoroughly so that they could take the best advantage of it to enhance business with China.

As China’s economy has been developing at a moderate speed, it would need to increase imports of raw materials from bigger economies, hence, developing stronger ties with Australia and other nations is a must, said Ma. China would also contribute to global peace building and seek friendly relations.

Meanwhile, Ma asked all the nations involved with China to look at the quality of the Chinese economy closely to get vivid ideas of the structural development taking place and to derive benefits. He would be expecting a “new normal relation” with Australia in terms of economy. While speaking on the developments, he reflected on how good a partner Australia has been to China and assured that new avenues would open up in the field of agriculture and services because the demand for Australian agricultural products including wine, cheese, beef and lamb has increased.

Contact the writer at priya.shayani@gmail.com.