Australia-China High-Level Talks

Following extensive consultations in Australia and China, the Centre for Dialogue at La Trobe University in collaboration with the Centre for China Studies, also based at La Trobe University, is pleased to announce the Australia-China High-Level Talks. The aim is to promote a deeper understanding in each country of the political, cultural, economic and social outlook of the other. Through the application of dialogical principles and techniques, which the Centre for Dialogue has refined over the last several years, the project will explore bilateral, regional and global challenges confronting the two societies, and so provide a platform for a more constructive and cooperative relationship. The aim is to lay the foundations for a sustainable dialogue that will evolve and grow over time. The ‘dialogue’ will bring together opinion leaders from both countries concerned with the wider picture not only of the bilateral relationship, but also of the powerful changes that are taking place in the Asia Pacific region and across the world.

The dialogue will allow participants to engage in serious, frank and constructive discussion and to deepen their understanding of each other’s views across a range of political, cultural, economic and social issues. A key feature of the dialogue will be a forward looking approach that is concerned with the way the China-Australia relationship will develop over the next 5 to 10 years and beyond. This will be placed within the wider context of China’s and Australia’s place in the region and the world. A special feature of the dialogue will pay particular attention to the way we communicate with each other, with a view to deepening mutual respect, sensitivity to the cultural and social circumstances of all parties, and a readiness to listen intently to the views, concerns and aspirations of others.

It is anticipated that economic issues, particularly investment and trade, and the impact of the regulatory regime of the two countries, will feature prominently in the dialogues. Securing a substantial level of involvement and input from both the Chinese and Australian business sectors is regarded as a priority. The development of regional economic integration and global financial regulation are also likely to feature in the discussions.

Objectives

It is proposed that the dialogues will:

Consider policy issues that are central to the future consolidation of the Australia-China relationship;
Improve the quality and intensity of dialogue and cooperation between Australia and China, through the development of culturally sensitive policy-oriented intellectual exchanges;
Develop policy recommendations that are relevant to the work of government, the business sector and the academic community in key policy areas;
Publish and disseminate, in different formats, the findings and recommendations arising from the dialogue itself or research commissioned as a result of the dialogue – to be published in a range of formats to suit different audiences in both English and Chinese; and
Prepare the ground for a more ambitious Annual Dialogue between the two countries as a highly significant event able to attract the interest and participation of the academic, business and political communities at the highest level in both countries as a sustainable process over the longer term.

Proposal

Prof Camilleri meeting with Shanghai Institutes for International Studies President, Prof Yang Jiemian.

That the Australia-China High-Level Talks begin by mounting two dialogues:

the first in Melbourne, Australia in late 2012; and,
the second in China in 2013.

In December 2010, the Director and deputy Director of the Centre for Dialogue Prof Joseph A. Camilleri and Dr Michális S. Michael visited a number of institutions in Shanghai and Beijing, including East China Normal University, the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS), Fudan University, the China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong (CELAP), Peking University (PKU), the Chinese Foreign Ministry, several major research centres in Beijing, including the China Institutes for Contemporary International Relations (CICIR), the China Mining Association, the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the Asia Society (China Centre), and the Australian Embassy to China. All expressed strong interest in the proposal, and indicated an interest to participate in such a dialogue.

Themes and Topics

On the basis of extensive consultation, six themes have so far been identified as areas of interest to both China and Australia:

Resources and energy security, and implications for climate change;
Future economic policies of the two countries in the regional and global context;
Regional cooperation, security and regional architecture;
Prospects for cultural collaboration;
Common challenges confronting both societies such as domestic rural-urban migration and the future development of education and health policies; and
The contribution of the younger generation of Australians and Chinese to future collaboration between the two countries.

The Centre for Dialogue proposes that the two initial dialogues consider four areas of policy:

The economic and political aspects of the resources policies of the two countries, especially as they impact on trade, investment and energy policies, climate change and food security, and on the bilateral relationship;
International education (with particular reference to educational exchanges between the two countries, the role of Chinese students studying in Australia, and future cooperation in the development of education policy); and
Global health (with particular reference to the spread of communicable diseases, appropriate prevention and treatment, and avenues of bilateral, regional and global cooperation); and
Problems and prospects in regional cooperation, especially in relation to regional security.

It is proposed that the two initial dialogues bring together some 40 participants (delegations of approximately 15 to 20 from each country).

Participation

Participants will be chosen with care, to ensure that they all are of considerable stature and influence.

Five main categories of participants are envisaged:

Eminent scholars and experts (drawn from leading universities, research centres and think tanks);
Key business leaders and representatives of national business peak bodies – including those with a strong interest in energy, resources (and associated trade and investment issues), food security, health and education sectors;
Influential, knowledgeable and articulate political leaders (either senior members of political parties, or legislatures [national Parliament of Australia and National People’s Congress] – key ministers and members of the relevant parliamentary committees of the two legislatures, for example, foreign affairs committee, environment and resources committee);
Influential serving and retired diplomats; and
Influential journalists (foreign editors, editors in-chief).

Partners and Support

Prof Minyue Hou (ECNU), Prof Camilleri and Dr Michael with (2nd from right) Mr Jiang Haishan, Vice President, China Executive Leadership Academy Pudong (CELAP).

The development of the Australia-China relationship has the strong support of La Trobe University’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof Paul Johnson, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (International and Future Students), Prof John Rosenberg, as well as of the Chairman of the Centre for Dialogue, former Premier of the State of Victoria, The Hon Steve Bracks, who is prepared to play a key role in the development of Australia-China relations. The proposed Australia-China High-Level Talks are supported by the Australia China Business Council, and is of interest to the State Government of Victoria and to the City of Melbourne.

The Centre for Dialogue and the Centre for China Studies at La Trobe University in December 2011 signed a Letter of Intent establishing Peking University as the lead Partner Organization in China.

La Trobe University has a longstanding interest in China Studies and in the development of China-Australia relations. Prof Camilleri has written extensively on China and convened and participated in numerous international and national conferences and symposia on the Asia-Pacific region and China’s foreign policy.

A working group has been formed in Melbourne in order to plan the initial dialogues between the two countries in consultation with the partner organisations in China.

For further information contact Dr Michális S. Michael, Deputy Director, Centre for Dialogue.