Opportunities and dividends that can’t be missed---Australian business community is optimistic about Belt and Road cooperation

The second Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit Forum will be held soon. In an interview with Xinhua news agency, a number of business people in Australia said that Belt and Road is a global cooperation initiative. Australian enterprises should not miss the opportunities and dividends brought about by the Belt and Road construction. “Belt and Road initiative involves both infrastructure construction and cooperation projects in educational and health sectors. If Australia fails to participate, it will miss huge opportunities.”, said John Blunby, former Governor of Victoria and National Chairman of Australia-China Business Council. He believes that the professional knowledge and skills that Australian enterprises have in the fields of construction, project management, financing and other aspects are all what Belt and Road projects need. Australian enterprises also have advantages in the fields of education, design, logistics, tourism and other supporting services involved in the Belt and Road construction. This initiative covers almost all of the world and brings huge investment. Australia should seize the opportunity." Blunby said. Fortiscue Metal Group (FMG) is Australia's third largest iron ore producer, producing about 170 million tons of iron ore annually. In the view of FMG CEO Elizabeth Gaines, the Belt and Road initiative has not only promoted the development of major investment projects, but also promoted global interconnection and will bring business opportunities to Australia's resource industry. Gaines said that many countries have joined the Belt and Road construction, which will help promote economic and trade exchanges between Australia and these countries, and benefit Australian key industries such as agriculture, education, tourism and medical services. Mark Allison, CEO of an Australian agricultural enterprise Eldes, agrees. “The logistics and supply chain system constructed by Belt and Road will help to create a broader market for Australian agriculture. Australia has the world's leading agricultural technology which can be applied in the Belt and Road projects in Central Asia, Eastern Europe and even Africa.” Alison said. Many respondents held a positive attitude toward the cooperation between Australia and China under the Belt and Road framework. As a member of the Advisory Committee of the Australia-China Belt and Road Industrial Cooperation Center, Alison said that many companies have been aware of the dividends to be brought about by the Belt and Road initiative and are actively seeking cooperation with China. Brumby also said that the Australia-China Industrial and Commercial Committee encourages member enterprises to participate in the Belt and Road cooperation and achieve win-win results. Jingye Cheng, Chinese ambassador to Australia, said that China and Australia have maintained close and strong economic and trade ties and cultural exchanges. The two sides have full conditions to carry out various forms of cooperation in the Belt and Road construction, which will not only promote mutually beneficial and win-win international cooperation, and provide Australia with a broader space for its own development, but also further deepen and expand the depth and breadth of the existing cooperation between China and Australia. In 2018, Vitoria of Australia signed a memorandum of understanding on Belt and Road cooperation with the Chinese side. According to local media reports, governor Andrews will lead a delegation to attend the second Belt and Road International Cooperation Summit to be held in Beijing. "Not only enterprises, but also the Australian government should take an active part in the Belt and Road initiative”, said Alice Dejan, Ph.D. and senior lecturer at the Business School of Monash University, Australia. “The Belt and Road initiative is very important in the Asia Pacific region, and to participate in it helps to fully understand the changing trend of the region and play a positive role.”