Austraila-China two-day economic talks in China

For the first time in seven years, an Australian treasurer Jim Chalmers met with Zheng Shanjie, Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission in Beijing on Thursday.  The treasurer is keen to understand the challenges facing the Chinese economy. The treasurer said that continued and stable economic growth in China is in Australia’s interests.

China is Australia’s largest trading partner, so any economic problems here can have implications back at home. Zheng Shanjie made similar comments, also pointing to the warming ties between the two countries, saying that the relationship represented opportunities rather than challenges now.