On 17 June, Professor James Laurenceson, Director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, spoke with China News Service during the 2025 Australia–China Economic and Trade Cooperation Forum in Melbourne, marking the 10th anniversary of the China–Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA).
On 20 June, Vaughn Barber, Chair of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce (AustCham China), spoke with SFC Markets and Finance about the 2025 Doing Business in China (DBIC) Report and the outlook for bilateral trade. Despite global economic uncertainty, Barber reaffirmed that Australian businesses are not retreating from China, they are doubling down.
On 10 June 2025, China Daily spotlighted the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce’s 2025 Doing Business in China report, which reaffirmed China’s position as a pivotal market for Australian firms. Based on responses from 858 companies, the report revealed that nearly 70% of foreign firms rank China among their top three global investment destinations, with over 75% reporting profitability in 2024 and one-third planning geographic expansion. AustCham Chair Vaughn Barber and CEO Tian Zhang emphasized deepening commercial ties, especially in clean energy, agribusiness, and F&B, while urging greater clarity in regulatory frameworks to support two-way investment.
At the recently held 2025 Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit, leaders from international organizations and chambers of commerce delivered a clear message: China remains a key player in the global trade landscape.
The 2025 Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit was held in Beijing on May 22, under the theme "Embracing the Era of Digital Intelligence, Advancing Development Together." Vaughn Barber, Chair of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce (AustCham China), attended the event and delivered a keynote speech.
Vaughn Barber, Chair of AustCham China, was featured in a full-page special report by People's Daily—China's most authoritative newspaper—during the 2025 Global Trade and Investment Promotion Summit organized by CCPIT in Beijing.
