China-Australia links improve with election of new Labor government in Canberra

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By Daniel Hughes 

Sino-Australian business relations and political connections are already riding the crest of an all-time high, but will seemingly be further enhanced by the result of Australia’s federal election on Saturday, November 24.

In a landslide result, the people of Australia ousted the reigning John Howard-led Liberal government, in preference for a new Labor government to be headed by Kevin Rudd.

It is Rudd’s history of education and business experience that many Chinese businesses and politicians are surely to be optimistic about. The new Australian Prime Minister has had a love affair with China dating back to the age of 10 when he was given a book on ancient cultures. After completing his high-school education, Mr. Rudd attended the Australian National University, majoring with first-class honors in both Chinese language and history, and during the mid 1980s was posted to Beijing to work as a junior diplomat with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Upon returning to Australia, Mr. Rudd turned his attentions to politics, initially with the Queensland state government in 1988, and then to federal parliament ten years later. During this time he also worked for as a China consultant for KPMG.

A fluent speaker of Mandarin, Mr. Rudd has become widely acknowledged throughout Australian political circles as an expert on Chinese politics, foreign policy, Australia-Asia relations and globalization since becoming elected into federal parliament in 1998.

Australian businesses in China and Chinese businesses in Australia are encouraged by the prospects of having such a Sinophile running the Australian government, in charge of its economy and foreign relations. Mr. Rudd’s government has already made commitment to signing the Kyoto agreement (both China and Australia are currently not signatories), and promises to work closely to encourage China to follow suit. The first state visit between Rudd and Chinese President Hu Jintao, whether in Canberra or Beijing, promises to be quite exciting.