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Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, December 15 (Reporters Wu Yue and Wang Bin) Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said on the 15th that Chinese authorities have recently taken relevant measures against some Australian products exported to China in accordance with laws and regulations, in accordance with Chinese international laws, regulations and practices. It is also responsible behavior towards China’s domestic industries and consumers. Australia considers itself an alleged “victim” and constantly hints at and accuses China. This is totally confusing and counterproductive. China will never accept this.
Answering related questions at the day’s regular press conference, Wang Wenbin said that it was the Australian side that had politicized economic, trade, investment and technology issues in recent years and taken discriminatory measures against Chinese companies in violation of the principles of the market economy and international economic and commercial standards. Go further and further down the road.
Wang Wenbin listed three facts about this:
First, since 2018, more than a dozen Chinese investment projects in Australia have been rejected by the Australian side for unjustified “national security” reasons. These include the acquisition of Australian Gas Group by Hong Kong Yangtze River Infrastructure Group and the acquisition of Australian Lion Dairy by Mengniu Dairy. Infrastructure, agriculture and livestock projects have caused huge losses to Chinese companies. In March and June this year, Australia continuously revised its foreign investment law and greatly strengthened the so-called “national security review” of foreign investment. Australia’s own national media interpreted it as targeting China and completely deviated from the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. Commitment to facilitating investment and continuously lowering the investment review threshold. It is precisely because of Australia’s series of discriminatory practices against Chinese companies that investment by Chinese companies in Australia has fallen dramatically year on year since 2017. Last year, the amount of investment fell by 85% compared to 2016.
Second, without any conclusive evidence, Australia took the initiative to ban Chinese companies from participating in the construction of 5G networks on the grounds of so-called “national security.” He has not yet given a reasonable explanation.
Third, Australia has so far initiated 106 anti-dumping and countervailing investigations against Chinese products, while China has initiated only 4 anti-dumping and countervailing investigations against Australian products.
Wang Wenbin said that Australia’s series of measures that violated market principles and the spirit of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement have disrupted the strong development momentum of China-Australia pragmatic cooperation and have also damaged its own image and reputation. from Australia. On the contrary, China has kept its promises and actively fulfilled its obligations under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement. It has lowered Australia’s import tariffs for six consecutive years from 2015 to 2020. Today, around 95% of Australian imports enjoy zero tariff treatment. China has steadily expanded its openness and its business environment has continued to improve. At the III China International Import Expo held not long ago, more than 150 Australian companies participated in the exhibition, ranking among the first in number of participating countries, demonstrating that Australian companies have full confidence in the prospects of the Chinese market .
“If it is about normal exchanges and cooperation based on mutual respect and compliance with the rules, there is nothing to worry about. On the contrary, the politicization of normal economic and commercial activities does not impose unreasonable restrictions, it violates the rules. fundamentals of international relations, it interferes in the internal affairs of other countries, it does not even provoke. Disagreements and confrontations are things that are really worth worrying about. ” act online to provide good conditions and atmosphere for practical cooperation between China and Australia in various fields, and not the other way around.
