Simon Merrifield makes a keynote speech. (Photo/CAEXPO secretariat)

Question 3: The 11th CAEXPO will be held on September 16–19 in Nanning of Guangxi, China. Australia will be the first special guest country of the CAEXPO. What new measures will the Australian government take to leverage this platform and promote its cooperation with China and the ASEAN?

Simon Merrifield:

Australia is honored to participate in the 11th China ASEAN Expo as the first Special Guest Country.

Leading the Australian government’s delegation to the China ASEAN Expo, it will be my role to support Australia’s inaugural participation in this unique, multilateral economic and business cooperation platform. Representing the minister for trade and investment, I am honored to participate in strategic government-to-government dialogues with leaders from China and across the ASEAN region.

In addition, I will also support the Australian showcase for public and business visitors to the expo.

Question 4: This year marks the start of combined efforts to build the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century. Australia remains a major player in the Asia-Pacific region. What is your comment on the initiative of building the Maritime Silk Road of the 21st Century?

Simon Merrifield:

We support efforts to boost regional trade and investment. Australia’s Economic Diplomacy agenda is committed to increasing regional and global prosperity through a range of measures, including reducing barriers to trade and investment flows and supporting infrastructure development.

Greater regional and global prosperity reduces poverty, supports stability, and creates new markets. We hope the Maritime Silk Road will play a positive role in contributing to regional cooperation and development by reducing barriers to regional trade and investment flows.

Question 5: The RCEP negotiations, the largest round of trade agreement negotiations in Asia with the largest number of participating members, were launched to cope with economic globalization and regional economic integration. All parties concerned are vigorously promoting relevant negotiations. How would you comment on the RCEP negotiations? What suggestions you would like to give on their future progress?

Simon Merrifield:

Australia is committed to strengthening regional economic integration. We are involved in both RCEP and Trans Pacific Partnership negotiations because both represent viable pathways to the realization of a free trade area in the Asia Pacific.

The RCEP is a big negotiation and there are significant challenges. The negotiations are with a diverse region, with different levels of economic development and varying levels of ambition.

Nevertheless, we are united by the commitment to negotiating a high quality, comprehensive agreement that builds on the existing FTAs with the ASEAN. This means ensuring that the RCEP is business-friendly; provides a solid platform for trade and investment decisions; and helps shape economic integration in the broader region.

Australia is keen to work with China to ensure that the RCEP will be a credible and commercially meaningful agreement that will underpin ongoing economic growth over the years ahead.

Edited by Michael Thai