Victoria premier calls for fast tracking Australia's FTA with China
16 Oct 2012
Premier of the Australian state of Victoria, Ted Baillieu, who last month led a 600-strong delegation to China, has called on the federal government to fast track the Fair Trade Agreement (FTA) with the People's Republic.
He told the Australia China Business Council that the FTA talks had dragged on for seven years, which was a long time.
He said, progressing these negotiations was critical if Victoria and other states and territories were to increase trade and investment and create new jobs.
He added, that the commonwealth government needed to do everything it could to support business in engaging more effectively with "our largest trading partner".
According to Baillieu, his trade mission was expected to result in over than $1.4 billion worth of new trade in the next two years and 1400 jobs.
Two of China's biggest banks - China Construction and the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China - would open offices in Melbourne before the end of the year.
Also Sichuan Airlines would start flying three times a week between Melbourne and Chengdu, a major inland economic hub having a population of 14 million.
