Australian PM invokes Deng Xiaoping in urging China to further open up
Nation becomes weak when it’s closed off, Malcolm Turnbull says on state visit
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull invoked the spirit of late reformist leader Deng Xiaoping on Friday to urge China to keep opening up to the world, as he addressed concerns about internet freedoms and market access for foreign firms.
On the second day of his visit, Turnbull met President Xi Jinping at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse. Xi said the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership was conducive to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region. He called for both countries to strengthen bilateral cooperation over the Australia-China Free Trade Agreement and Beijing’s “One Belt, One Road” initiative, as well as in international organisations such as Apec and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank.
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China raised taxes on goods bought on overseas e-commerce platforms earlier this month, then sparked more confusion with a last-minute list that limited some products from being sold through these channels, leading to sharp share price changes by firms in close trade partnerssuch as Australia. Asked about the new restrictions, as well as China’s tightening controls on the internet and human rights issues in general, Turnbull said Australia and China had regular and very open discussion about rights.
The more open China is the stronger it is
“The truth is, as I said in Shanghai, the more open China is, the stronger it is,” Turnbull said.
“Deng Xiaoping said, when China was open to the world it was strong; when it became closed it became weak,” he said of the leader who ushered in landmark economic reforms more than three decades ago.
China is trying to shift to a more consumption driven economic model as growth stalls.
Turnbull said Premier Li Keqiang told him how he was trying to boost the small business sector in China.
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Premier Li explained how he saw enabling the small business sector, giving the small business sector the freedom to incorporate new businesses,” Turnbull said. “The remarkable economic gains in this region, by every country, including our own ... and China, [have] been based on a foundation of peace and stability.”
Additional reporting by Catherine Wong
