On 25 March, H.E. Consul General Wang Yu published a signed article entitled "Amid trade wars, China's open markets are a win for Australia" in the commentary section of the Australian Financial Review, one of the mainstream media in Australia. The main contents are as follows:

The China International Import Expo (CIIE) is a vivid epitome of China's expanded opening up. The expo features as the world's first national-level exhibition focusing on imports and symbolizes a major step taken by China to open its market to the world.

The CIIE has been held uninterruptedly for seven years, with the cumulative intended turnover exceeding $US500 billion ($800 billion) since inception. A record number of more than 250 Australian companies participated in the seventh exhibition, which is a vote of confidence by them in China's economy and co-operation between the two countries.

Opening up has been a defining feature of Chinese modernization. We continue to promote voluntary and unilateral opening up. China's overall tariff level has been cut to 7.3 per cent - a fairly low level in the world. China has stayed as the world's largest goods trader for eight consecutive years, with its import scale ranking second globally for many years.

We steadily expand institutional opening up. China has set up 21 Pilot Free-Trade Zones in alignment with high-standard international trade rules. China has applied to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), which manifests its confidence and determination to open up further.

We firmly adhere to a win-win strategy of opening up. China has become a main trading partner of more than 150 countries and territories. Its contribution to world economic growth has stayed at around 30 per cent. From December 1, 2024, China implemented zero-tariff treatment for 100 per cent of tariff lines for products from least-developed countries with which it has diplomatic relations, which boosts efforts for a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

An open China brings shared prosperity to the world and has also contributed to the development of various fields in Australia. China has been ranked as Australia's top trade partner for 16 consecutive years.

A report from the Australia China Business Council shows that in the fiscal year of 2022-23, trade with China increased Australia's annual household disposable income by $2600, and created nearly 600,000 jobs in this country.

According to statistics from China's Ministry of Commerce, by the end of 2023, Chinese companies employed more than 25,000 local staff in Australia. China is also one of the largest sources of international tourists and international students in this country, bringing significant spending power to the Australian market.

Tariff wars and trade wars have no winners. Trade protectionism benefits no one. This is a broad consensus among the majority of countries including China and Australia. As the ultimate goal of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative goes, all countries share a huge stake in common survival. Only through openness, inclusiveness, and mutual learning can we achieve common development.

Looking ahead, China will continue to deepen reforms comprehensively and promote high-standard opening up, creating greater opportunities for China-Australia co-operation. We are willing to work with Australia, following the consensus reached by the leaders of both countries, to inject more momentum into the economies of both countries, the region, and the world.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the signing of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. We look forward to Australia's support in China's accession to the CPTPP. At the same time, the eighth China International Import Expo will be held in Shanghai from November 5 to 8. We welcome more Australian companies to participate and to explore a true, multidimensional, and panoramic view of China.