On June 18, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Premier of the State Council of the People’s Republic of China, Li Qiang, attended the 7th China-Australia CEO Roundtable in Perth with Australian Prime Minister Albanese. Ms. Jiang Anqi, Chairlady of Tianqi Lithium Corporation, and Mr. Xia Juncheng, Director and President, represented Chinese entrepreneurs investing in Australia, participating in discussions alongside approximately 30 other business leaders at the roundtable meeting.
Premier Li Qiang, after listening to speeches from representatives of the business communities of both countries, expressed that the development of China-Australia relations is mutually beneficial, forming a closely-knit community of shared interests. He emphasized that China and Australia complement each other economically and are natural partners for cooperation. Premier Li highlighted the broad prospects for China-Australia cooperation, emphasizing its role as a vital force in stabilizing industrial and supply chains and promoting economic growth.
He expressed hope that entrepreneurs from both countries will continue to deepen cooperation in traditional fields and actively expand into new areas of collaboration. Premier Li emphasized the importance of enlarging the cake of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Australia, while contributing to the broader exchange and cooperation across various fields between the two nations.
Prime Minister Albanese stated in his address that China is Australia's largest trading partner, and China's development brings new opportunities for Australia's development. The Australian side is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in economic and trade, minerals, innovation, maintaining stability in supply chains, addressing climate change, and other fields. They aim to achieve more fruitful outcomes in practical cooperation between the two countries. Australia is willing to work with China to actively face the future, promote mutual interests, address common challenges, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and benefit the peoples of both Australia and China.
During her speech at the CEO roundtable, Jiang Anqi expressed that new energy has become the green engine for building a community with a shared future for mankind. The accelerating global response to climate change has driven rapid developments in global energy transformation and the new energy industry. It has also provided a favorable international cooperation environment and win-win opportunities for countries to promote energy production and consumption revolutions.
The joint efforts of China and Australia in addressing climate change, promoting low-carbon economies, and fostering green development lay a solid foundation for bilateral cooperation in the development of the green energy industry.
Jiang Anqi also highlighted the strong complementarity, interdependence, and mutual benefits between Chinese and Australian enterprises. Australian companies excel in the energy and mining industries, complementing China's leading experience in manufacturing. Tianqi Lithium's investment in the Kwinana Lithium Hydroxide Plant in Western Australia has opened a new chapter for Australia's lithium chemical industry, transitioning it from a resource-endowed industry to a downstream extension in the high-value-added lithium battery industry chain.
During the round table discussion, Jiang Anqi proposed three suggestions: Firstly, establish a mechanism for technical exchange and cooperation to unify and align technical indicators, standards, definitions, laws, and other aspects along the industrial chain, thereby promoting cooperation between both sides more effectively. Secondly, establish a platform for talent exchange to facilitate mutual assistance in youth talent development, exchange of high-end talents, and project collaboration, thereby solidifying the support of new human resources elements for deepening cooperation between the two countries. Thirdly, enhance industrial synergy by increasing the use of renewable energy in the production and manufacturing stages of the lithium battery industry chain, gradually promoting the green and intelligent development of the bilateral lithium battery industry chain.
