Foreword
In recent days, the Victorian Premier visited China, signaling steady improvements in China–Australia relations and bringing a wave of positive news. Chinese-made machinery will soon arrive in Melbourne’s Chinese districts, alongside a series of new cooperation projects. Today, another state premier is following suit, embarking on a visit to China as well.

#01: Victorian Premier’s Visit to China Yields Substantial Results, Chinese Communities to See Major Changes
The Victorian Premier’s visit to China has been a major topic of interest among Chinese Australians in recent days. Premier Jacinta Allan began a five-day trip on Monday, visiting five Chinese cities and securing several significant cooperation agreements that will further strengthen bilateral relations. On the final day of her trip, Allan traveled nearly 9,000 kilometers to Deyang in Sichuan Province to inspect a suburban rail line. In addition to this inspection, she promoted a new agreement to bring in more Chinese tunnel boring machines (TBMs) for the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), a $35 billion project in Victoria. Four TBMs had already been ordered, valued in the tens of millions of Australian dollars, though specific details have not been disclosed. The equipment is expected to arrive in Australia this December, shipped from Zhengzhou to Melbourne, to be used in tunnel construction in the Chinese communities of Glen Waverley and Box Hill in eastern Melbourne. Allan added that Chinese companies are participating in the SRL project, but actual construction will be carried out by Victorian workers. The project she inspected was contracted to China State Construction Engineering Corporation, involving a newly built 40-kilometer suburban railway in Deyang, with construction and installation costs totaling $1.8 billion AUD, excluding financing and other non-construction expenses. Allan stated, “This shows us that we still have much to learn.” She also remarked, “Why can’t we have a public transport system like China’s? Their high-speed rail and suburban networks are everywhere and worth learning from.” With the support of new agreements and Chinese-made TBMs, the SRL project in Melbourne’s Chinese districts will move forward more rapidly, bringing profound changes to the surrounding communities.

#02: $43 Million Invested in Tourism Promotion in China, New Trade Deals Reached
Beyond railway cooperation, Victoria has gone all in on tourism promotion during this visit. The government has allocated $43 million AUD for global advertising campaigns, starting first in China, with billboards, TV, and social media highlighting Victoria’s top restaurants, unique wildlife experiences, and exciting sporting events, all aimed at attracting more Chinese tourists. On the evening of September 17, Premier Allan officially launched this campaign at a Tourism Victoria event in Shanghai, with celebrity Wu Zun joining to promote Victoria to Chinese audiences. That evening, a new brand tailored for the Chinese market—“Melbourne: Every Step, A New World”—was unveiled. Allan, Tourism Chief Brendan McClements, and Wu Zun jointly launched the new brand identity. Data shows that Victoria has high expectations for Chinese tourists. In the year ending March, over 410,000 Chinese tourists visited Melbourne, and Premier Allan hopes to double that figure by 2029. She stated clearly, “We want Victoria to become the first choice for Chinese people when it comes to tourism and education.” The campaign is expected to reach up to 700,000 people daily in China. Trade was also a major focus of the visit. On Wednesday, Allan announced a new partnership with popular Chinese e-commerce platform Dingdong Maicai. This will allow Victorian products such as yogurt, ice cream, wine, and Wagyu beef to reach Chinese consumers’ doorsteps within 30 minutes. Dozens of Victorian products, including Sunkist oranges, Bulla ice cream, Chobani yogurt, Mayura Station Wagyu beef, and Yering Station Pinot Noir, will be prominently featured on the app’s homepage, which processes over 800,000 orders daily. The Victorian Farmers Federation welcomed the deal, calling it a major boost for industries worth billions. Allan emphasized, “We are here in Shanghai to bring Victoria’s produce to the world’s largest market, and this is a huge win for residents in Victoria’s regional areas.” China is already Victoria’s largest trading partner and its biggest export market for food and fiber, with exports valued at more than $4.8 billion AUD in 2023–24. This visit brought Victoria a series of new agreements and positive developments, and another state premier has already arrived in China today to continue this wave of engagement.

#03: Western Australian Premier Arrives in China, Prime Minister and Multiple States Strengthen Cooperation
Australia’s Prime Minister has openly supported the Victorian Premier’s visit to China. In fact, this year alone, the Prime Minister and several state leaders have engaged closely with China. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited China from July 12 to 18, marking the longest official visit to China by an Australian Prime Minister. The latest news confirms that Western Australian Premier Roger Cook has now arrived in Shanghai for a nine-day trip to deepen ties with the state’s largest trading partner. Cook stressed, “These relationships are vital, and we want to make the most of them—it’s about Western Australian jobs.” He highlighted that China is WA’s biggest trading partner, receiving more than half of its exports, making close collaboration with Chinese resource industry clients essential. Key focuses of the visit include natural gas exports, which can help reduce reliance on coal while contributing to global emissions reduction; energy and mineral policy, including uranium resources, which the WA Chamber of Minerals and Energy estimates could generate $1 billion AUD for the economy and create 9,000 jobs if allowed for export; and green steel, where Cook aims to advance industry development with China as the primary global market. For WA’s Chinese community, especially businesses and investors, this is highly encouraging news, pointing to greater economic opportunities, employment, and exchanges ahead.

Conclusion
With more agreements and high-level visits, the trend of improving China–Australia relations is increasingly evident. Looking ahead, more beneficial deals and cooperative projects are expected, bringing tangible advantages to Chinese communities across Australia.