Bilateral relations

After establishing diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 1972, Australia established an embassy in Beijing in 1973.

The Australia-China bilateral relationship is based on strong economic and trade complementarities and longstanding community and cultural links.

In 2014, the Australian Prime Minister and Chinese President agreed to describe the relationship as a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership", reflecting its breadth.

Bilateral engagement has generated benefits for both countries. While we have many shared interests, we also have differences to manage. Australia will cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in the national interest.

Both sides acknowledge that Australia and China have different histories, societies and political systems, as well as differences of view on some important issues. In our engagement with China, we work in support of the welfare of our citizens, the rights and freedoms of those who live in Australia, and our strategic, security and trade interests.

Australia adheres to its one-China policy, which means the Australian Government does not recognise the Republic of China (ROC) as a sovereign state and does not regard the authorities in Taiwan as having the status of a national government.

Australia raises a wide range of human rights issues with China including freedom of expression, freedom of religion, treatment of political prisoners and ethnic minorities (including abuses in Xinjiang and Tibet), torture, the death penalty, and the rights of legal practitioners and civil rights activists. Where appropriate, we also raise our concerns at multilateral fora such as the Human Rights Council.

Australia's diplomatic network in China includes the embassy in Beijing and consulates general in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hong Kong. There are also six Austrade offices across China, assisting Australian businesses to enter markets and promote Australia as an investment, tourism and education destination. Most Australian state governments are represented in China's leading commercial centres. Australia and China share around 100 sister-state/province and sister-city relationships.

Trade and investment

China is Australia's largest two-way trading partner, accounting for 25 per cent of our goods and services trade with the world in 2024, totalling $312 billion. Our goods and services exports to China totalled $196 billion in 2024, representing 30 per cent of our global goods and services exports over that period. Increased engagement between Australia and China has led to positive developments in the trade relationship, including the removal of China's trade impediments that had affected Australian exports since 2020. More detailed trade statistics can be found via the China Fact Sheet [PDF].

The China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) entered into force on 20 December 2015. ChAFTA is delivering enormous benefits to Australia, enhancing our competitive position in the Chinese market, boosting economic growth and creating jobs. Businesses have taken advantage of lower tariffs under the agreement, and two-way trade has more than doubled since 2015. On 15 July 2025, during Prime Minister Albanese's visit to China, Australia and China signed a MoU on reviewing ChAFTA. The review is expected to conclude by the end of 2026 and will involve consultation between government and industry. Australia and China are also parties to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (RCEP).

Australia's foreign investment review framework is open, transparent and non-discriminatory. Chinese investment in Australia is a highly valued part of the bilateral relationship. China was the eighth-largest foreign direct investor in Australia, with foreign direct investment (FDI) stock worth $36 billion as at the end of 2024. In recent years, Chinese investment has broadened from mainly mining to other sectors including infrastructure and healthcare. Australian FDI stock in China totalled $2 billion as at the end of 2024.

Strong economic complementarities continue to underpin our mutually beneficial trade, and Australian businesses continue to successfully enter the Chinese market. However—as with all cross border commercial activities—risks exist alongside the opportunities. Austrade has developed a range of resources to assist Australian companies in navigating this market, including its China market profile and advice on doing business in China.

Chinese tourism to Australia is supported through online lodgement for visitor visas, access to Fast Track premium service (priority processing usually within 48 hours), and access to Australia's SmartGate. Recommencement of Australia's Approved Destination Status scheme also allows Chinese nationals to visit Australia on a tour organised by approved travel agents.

People-to-people links

Community and cultural links continue to develop strongly and play a central role in the Australia-China relationship. Australians of Chinese heritage have contributed significantly to the development of Australia and also foster people-to-people links with China and the region more broadly. Immigration, education, trade and tourism also bolster these ties.

Established in 2020, the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations is a national platform to promote and coordinate enhanced cooperation between Australia and China in support of Australia's national interests. The Foundation does this by strengthening risk-informed engagement with China in Australia's national interest, and reinforcing social cohesion by engaging Chinese-Australians, showcasing their contribution and strengthening their voice and agency. The Foundation's work is focused on improving China capability, practical cooperation in Australia's interests, supporting dialogue and exchange and enabling our diverse communities, and covers mainland China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Australia remains one of the most popular destinations for Chinese students wishing to study overseas. China continues to be Australia's largest source of overseas students.

In the other direction, China is one of the most popular host locations for Australia's New Colombo Plan (NCP) students. The NCP provides pathways for Australian undergraduate university students to develop their Indo-Pacific capability and Asia literacy through immersive, structured learning and internships in our region.

In 2014, Australia and China established a 1.5 track leadership forum, the Australia-China High Level Dialogue. The Dialogue aims to enhance mutual understanding by bringing together senior representatives from industry, government, academia, media and the arts to exchange perspectives across the breadth of Australia and China's bilateral relationship. The Dialogue is an opportunity for constructive discussion between stakeholders on both sides of the bilateral relationship across a range of issues, including trade and investment, people-to-people links and regional and international security. The inaugural High Level Dialogue was held in December 2014 in Beijing. The ninth Dialogue was held in September 2025 in Beijing. Australia's delegation was led by former Trade Minister, the Hon Dr Craig Emerson.

Chinese tourists have long been an important part of Australia's visitor economy. Recognising the complementary nature of China's and Australia's tourism sectors, and the positive economic and social impact of cooperation, on 15 July 2025 the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Tourism Cooperation. Implementation of activities under this MoU will be led by Austrade and Tourism Australia.

High-level visits and meetings

2025

October

• Climate Change and Energy Minister Bowen met China's Minister for Ecology and the Environment, Dr Huang Runqiu, for the 9th Australia-China Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Change in Beijing.
• Prime Minister Albanese met with Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) forum in Malaysia.

July

• Prime Minister Albanese met separately with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and National People's Congress Standing Committee Chair Zhao Leji in Beijing.
• Foreign Minister Wong met China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi on the sidelines of ASEAN-related meetings in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

June

Trade and Tourism Minister Farrell met China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in the margins of the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris.

February

Foreign Minister Wong met China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi in the margins of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Johannesburg.

2024

November

• Prime Minister Albanese met President Xi Jinping in the margins of the G20 Leaders' Summit in Rio de Janeiro.
• Trade and Tourism Minister Farrell met Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in Shanghai.

October

• Senate President Lines led a bipartisan parliamentary delegation to China, visiting Shanghai and Beijing.
• Prime Minister Albanese met Premier Li Qiang in the margins of the East Asia Summit in Vientiane.

September

• Treasurer Chalmers met the Chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission, Zheng Shanjie, for the fourth Strategic Economic Dialogue between Australia and China in Beijing.
• Foreign Affairs Minister Wong met China's Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi in the margins of the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.

August

• Climate Change and Energy Minister Bowen met China's Minister for Ecology and the Environment, Dr Huang Runqiu, for the 8th Australia-China Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Change in Sydney.
• Environment and Water Minister Plibersek met China's Minister for Ecology and the Environment, Dr Huang Runqiu, on the sidelines of the 8th Australia-China Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Change in Sydney.

July

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Bowen met China's Minister for Ecology and the Environment, Dr Huang Runqiu, during the 8th Ministerial on Climate Action in Wuhan.

June

• Former Governor-General Hurley met Premier Li Qiang in Canberra.
• Prime Minister Albanese met Premier Li Qiang in Canberra.
• Foreign Minister Wong, Trade and Tourism Minister Farrell and Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister Watt, met Premier Li Qiang in Adelaide.
• Prime Minister Albanese and Resources and Northern Australia Minister King met Premier Li Qiang in Perth.
• Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Marles met Chinese Minister for National Defense Admiral Dong Jun at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

April

• Trade and Tourism Minister Farrell met virtually with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao for the 17th Joint Ministerial Economic Commission.
• Education Minister Clare met Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng on the sidelines of the International Summit on the Teaching Profession in Singapore.

March

Foreign Minister Wong met the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, in Canberra for the 7th Foreign and Strategic Dialogue. Minister Wang also met separately with the Prime Minister.

February

• Acting Foreign Minister Gallagher met Executive Vice Minister Ma Zhaoxu on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Rio De Janeiro.
• Trade and Tourism Minister Farrell met Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on the sidelines of the 13th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Abu Dhabi.

2023

December

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Bowen met Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua in Dubai on the sidelines of COP28.

November

• Foreign Minister Wong and Trade and Tourism Minister Farrell met the Minister of the International Department of the Chinese Communist Party, Liu Jianchao, in Canberra.
• Trade and Tourism Minister Farrell met Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao on the sidelines of the APEC Ministers' Meeting in San Francisco.
• Treasurer Chalmers met Minister of Finance Lan Fo'an on the sidelines of the APEC Finance Ministers' Meeting in San Francisco.
• Prime Minister Albanese met separately with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and National People's Congress Standing Committee Chair Zhao Leji in Beijing.
• Foreign Minister Wong met the Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, in Beijing.
• Trade and Tourism Minister Farrell met Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in Shanghai.

September

Prime Minister Albanese held a bilateral meeting with Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit in Jakarta, Indonesia.

August

Education Minister Clare and Skills and Training Minister O'Connor met Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng in Sydney and Melbourne respectively.

July

• Treasurer Chalmers met Minister of Finance Liu Kun on the sidelines of the G20 Finance Ministers' and Central Bank Governors' Meeting in Gandhinagar, India.
• Foreign Minister Wong met Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi on the sidelines of ASEAN-related meetings in Jakarta, Indonesia.
• Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Watt met Chinese Minister of Agriculture and Rural Affairs Tang Renjian on the sidelines of the 43rd Conference of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Rome.

June

Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Marles met Chinese Minister of National Defense General Li Shangfu at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

May

• Minister for Trade and Tourism Farrell met Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao on the sidelines of the APEC Ministers Responsible for Trade meeting in Detroit.
• Minister for Trade and Tourism Farrell co-chaired the 16th Joint Ministerial Economic Commission with Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao in Beijing.

March

Foreign Minister Wong held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Qin Gang on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in New Delhi.

February

Minister for Trade and Tourism Farrell held a video teleconference with Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao.

2022

December

• Foreign Minister Wong and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the sixth Foreign and Strategic Dialogue in Beijing.
• Minister for the Environment and Water Plibersek met Minister of Ecology and the Environment Huang Runqiu at the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal.

November

• Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Marles met Minister of National Defense Wei Fenghe in Siem Reap on the sidelines of the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting Plus.
• Minister for Climate Change and Energy Bowen met Special Envoy for Climate Change Xie Zhenhua in Sharm El Sheikh on the sidelines of COP27.
• Prime Minister Albanese held a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping in Bali on the sidelines of the G20 Summit.
• Foreign Minister Wong held a phone call with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

September

Foreign Minister Wong held a bilateral meeting with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

July

Foreign Minister Wong held a bilateral meeting with Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bali.

June

Defence Minister Marles met with Chinese Minister for National Defence General Wei Fenghe at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

Prior to May 2022

• In January 2020, former prime minister the Hon John Howard OM AC co‑chaired the Australia China High-Level Dialogue in Sydney with Mr Li Zhaoxing, Honorary President of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and former Minister of Foreign Affairs.
• In November 2019, former prime minister the Hon Scott Morrison met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Bangkok for the Annual Leaders' Meeting.
• In November 2019, former trade, investment and tourism minister the Hon Simon Birmingham visited Shanghai where he led Australia's delegation to the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and participated in ministerial discussions on World Trade Organisation (WTO) matters.
• In October 2019, former prime minister the Hon Scott Morrison met Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan in Jakarta.
• In August 2019, former foreign minister the Hon Marise Payne and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bangkok.
• In August 2019, former trade, investment and tourism minister the Hon Simon Birmingham visited Beijing for Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations.

Trade data current as of October 2025.