(Yicai) Nov. 21 -- Besides resource industries, health, and climate are two areas of high cooperation potential for Australia and its biggest trading partner China, according to an Australian trade official.

After the pandemic, the entire world become much more interested in preventative healthcare to stay healthy, Andrea Myles, a senior trade and investment commissioner at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, said to Yicai. Australia has a world-class health system and high-standard health products, so Australian companies achieved great success in the health space at the China International Import Expo, per Myles.

"Both Australia and China have similar net zero goals in climate change, and both governments have put that as a top priority, so there is a huge amount that we can do in terms of investment or trade around the production of batteries, green steel, hydrogen," Myles said.

Several Chinese firms have found their way to the Oceanian market. Terminus Group, a company dedicated to artificial intelligence of things solutions, helps Australian cities become smarter. Moreover, the continent is one of the most important international markets for Chinese carmaker BYD with thousands of BYD-branded vehicles on the streets of Australian cities.

Cooperation is not limited to big iron ore companies such as BHP Group. Even small and medium-sized firms trade with China, per Myles. Australian companies have advantages in commodities, dairy products, as well as seafood, she noted.

The CIIE revealed that Ashton Valley Fresh, a family-owned maker of apple and pear juice, will bring new packaging to China. "Next year, there will be a can version that is more apt for the Chinese market," per Zhang Yan, a China representative. When Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited China, one of the lunch banquets served sparkling apple juice produced by Ashton Valley Fresh, Zhang added.

"I’m always optimistic about what Australia and China can achieve together," said Myles. "Our economies are very complimentary. Australia has great innovation but we don’t have the scale you have in China, and China has great innovation and technology, and you are also looking for new things to bring to China, and that’s where Australia can help. China will always look for the best food and beverage in the world and Australia will always produce that so there is always a market," she added.

"The cornerstone of the Sino-Australian relations is the pair’s economic trade ties," per Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University. “Economic trade between these two has always been very active in terms of agricultural, mineral, and primary products, as well as the service sector with corresponding trade volumes frequently hitting record highs.”

A record-high of 250 Australian companies took part in the recent CIIE. During the first 10 months of this year, bilateral trade between China and Australia totaled CNY1.33 trillion (USD186.4 billion), an annual increase of 11 percent, according to customs data from China.

Editor: Emmi Laine