Australia to trial new China visa rules to boost tourism
Applications to be accepted online and student permits streamlined
Australia will trial new visa rules for visitors and students from China, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Thursday as the country seeks to boost tourism and education amid an economy struggling with the demise of a once-in-a-lifetime mining boom.
On the first day of an official visit to his country’s key trade partner, Turnbull – bringing along a delegation of 1,000 business leaders – hailed business ties with China but skirted sensitive political issues.
But ahead of his meeting with Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing, Chinese state media issued commentaries “advising” Canberra of its “wrong-headed” remarks over territorial disputes in the South China Sea.
Li told Turnbull that China welcomed Australia’s plan to set up an innovation base in Shanghai and both sides should expand their cooperation in infrastructures and equipment manufacturing, state television reported.
Li added that both sides should properly handle their differences and foster regional and globaustraal peace and stability together.