20th October 2009
"[...] a US$ 41 billion deal to allow China to buy liquefied natural gas from a Western Australian gas field should have been cause to celebrate. The deal, between Chinese state-controlled PetroChina and ExxonMobil, is Australia’s biggest ever trade contract by value. Yet despite the deal’s significance, it was reportedly signed in a secret location in Beijing and without media present. Better just to get on with business without having too much involvement from Australian politicians or the public."
"Fonterra’s involvement in the tainted milk scandal was an early test of the relationship. The outcome was good considering that the predicament was 'as bad as it gets' according to Fonterra’s chief executive Andrew Ferrier at the time. "
"Unlike Australia, we do not have vast mineral deposits to bargain with so instead we must ensure that we get the politics right. To some degree, this means finding the distance from which our government can comfortably and effectively engage with China. Our political proximity to China may well evolve to be a bit closer than that of our neighbour's across the Tasman."
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