During the Fourth China International Supply Chain Expo, where Australia participated for the first time as Guest Country of Honour, AustCham China Chair Vaughn C. Barber spoke with Phoenix TV about what this moment means for Australian business and the next stage of Australia–China economic cooperation.
在第四届链博会期间，澳大利亚首次以主宾国身份参展。借此机会，中国澳大利亚商会会长冯栢文（Vaughn C. Barber）接受凤凰卫视采访，分享了澳大利亚企业界对此次参展意义的看法，以及对中澳经贸合作下一阶段的思考。
Our thanks to Phoenix TV for the opportunity to share these views.
感谢凤凰卫视提供此次交流机会。
The core message: from complementarity to “互能” (joint capability-building)
核心观点：从优势互补走向“互能”
A central message of the interview was that Australia–China cooperation should move beyond traditional “complementary strengths” — or “优势互补” — toward deeper “互能”: joint capability-building.
本次采访的核心观点之一是：中澳合作应超越传统的“优势互补”，迈向更深层次的“互能”——即共同建设能力。
This concept has developed through AustCham China’s recent public engagement: introduced in English as “Joint Capability” at CIIE in November 2025, and given the Chinese term “互能” at the CCPIT forum in May 2026.
这一概念也是中国澳大利亚商会近期公开交流中逐步形成的观点：2025年11月进博会期间以英文“Joint Capability”提出，2026年5月在中国贸促会相关交流中进一步概括为中文“互能”。
The most valuable cooperation is not only about completing a transaction. It is about whether cooperation leaves lasting skills, jobs, technology, standards, experience and competitiveness in both economies.
真正有价值的合作，不只是完成一笔交易，而是能否在双方经济中留下长期价值：技能、就业、技术、标准、经验和竞争力。
Why this vision matters now
为什么这一愿景很重要
Australia’s participation as Guest Country of Honour at the Expo sent an important signal. As the bilateral relationship continues to stabilise, Australian businesses are increasingly focused on turning stability into practical commercial opportunity.
澳大利亚首次担任链博会主宾国，释放了一个重要信号。随着中澳关系继续趋于稳定，澳大利亚企业越来越关注如何把这种稳定转化为实际的商业机会。
The economic relationship has long been based on complementarity: Australia supplying resources, energy, food and services; China providing manufacturing capacity, market scale and industrial depth. That foundation remains important.
长期以来，中澳经贸关系建立在“优势互补”的基础上：澳大利亚提供资源、能源、食品和服务；中国拥有制造能力、市场规模和完整的产业体系。这一基础仍然重要。
However, in a growing number of sectors that matter to Australia’s future competitiveness, China is now at or near the technology and industrial frontier. Therefore, Australian businesses are also looking at how trade, investment, research and education cooperation can help Australia access Chinese capability and build new capability at home.
但现在，在越来越多对澳大利亚未来竞争力至关重要的领域，中国已经处在或接近技术和产业能力的前沿。因此，澳大利亚企业也在关注如何通过贸易、投资、科研和教育合作，更好地对接中国的产业能力，并在澳大利亚本地建设新的能力。
Opportunities are expanding beyond traditional trade
机会不只在传统贸易，也在新的产业能力
Resources, energy, agriculture and services remain core pillars. But the next wave of opportunity is broader, with several areas standing out from AustCham China’s member engagement and survey work, including:
资源、能源、农业和服务仍然是中澳经贸关系的重要支柱。但下一阶段的机会更加广泛，从中国澳大利亚商会的会员调研和企业交流来看，以下领域尤为突出：
- clean energy technology, electric vehicles, energy storage, inverters, and battery systems
- medical devices and biopharmaceuticals
- electronics and industrial equipment
- modular and prefabricated construction
- green steel and industrial decarbonisation over the longer term
- 清洁能源技术、电动汽车、储能、逆变器和电池系统
- 医疗器械和生物医药
- 电子产品和工业设备
- 模块化和装配式建筑
- 更长期看，绿色钢铁和产业脱碳
A modernised ChAFTA should focus on practical business friction
升级版中澳自贸协定应聚焦企业实际障碍
The next stage of the agreement is less about tariffs, and more about the practical frictions businesses face every day. Priority areas for members include:
中澳自贸协定的下一阶段重点不再主要是关税，而是企业每天实际遇到的障碍。对会员企业而言，优先领域包括：
- digital trade facilitation and electronic customs processes
- digital certificates of origin
- product standards and certification
- movement of skilled people
- investment clarity
- faster mechanisms to deal with disruption
- 数字化贸易便利化和电子海关流程
- 电子原产地证书
- 产品标准和认证
- 技术人员流动
- 投资规则透明度
- 更快速有效的贸易扰动处理机制
A modernised ChAFTA should make it easier for business to operate with greater certainty, efficiency and confidence.
升级版中澳自贸协定应当让企业能够以更大的确定性、更高效率和更强信心开展跨境经营。
Business needs stable, clear and predictable rules
企业需要稳定、清晰和可预期的规则
Members have welcomed the improvement in the bilateral environment. But businesses still face uncertainty in three areas: the operating environment in China, the Australian investment environment, and the global rules environment. Business needs rules that are clear, stable, risk-based, and capable of being understood and applied.
会员企业欢迎中澳关系改善所带来的更积极商业环境。但企业仍然面对三方面挑战：在中国经营时对透明度和政策一致性的关注；在澳大利亚投资时对外资审批和商业可行性的关注；以及全球规则环境的变化。企业需要的是清晰、稳定、基于风险，并且可以被理解和执行的规则。
Investment is the link between trade and capability
投资是衔接贸易与产业能力的关键纽带
Australia–China trade remains strong, but trade alone is not enough to build shared capability. The weakening of Chinese investment into Australia is a critical issue. According to UTS:ACRI analysis published in 2026, Chinese direct investment stock in Australia has fallen back to around its 2015 level, and China no longer ranks among Australia’s top ten foreign investor sources in FIRB quarterly reporting.
中澳贸易仍然强劲，但贸易本身并不足以建设共同能力。中国对澳投资走弱是一个值得关注的问题。根据UTS:ACRI于2026年发布的分析，中国在澳直接投资存量已回落至约2015年的水平，在澳大利亚外国投资审查委员会季度报告中，中国也已不再位列前十大外资来源地。
The key is clarity: investors need to understand where investment is welcome, where it is sensitive, and what structures are more likely to succeed. Investors also have responsibilities to ensure projects are well-governed, commercially credible, and locally partnered.
关键在于清晰度：投资者需要知道哪些领域欢迎投资，哪些领域较为敏感，什么样的投资结构更有可能成功。同时，投资者也需要确保项目治理清晰、商业可信，并与本地伙伴合作。
AustCham China’s role: practical, commercially grounded cooperation
中国澳大利亚商会的角色：推动务实、可落地的商业合作
For AustCham China, the task now is to help members turn a more stable bilateral environment into practical commercial opportunity. This means continuing to reflect members’ views on trade facilitation, investment rules, people movement, sector cooperation and the business environment, while also creating more opportunities for practical dialogue.
对中国澳大利亚商会来说，当前最重要的任务是帮助会员把更加稳定的双边环境转化为务实的商业机会。这包括继续反映会员在贸易便利化、投资规则、人员流动、产业合作和营商环境方面的关切，并推动更多企业之间、行业之间以及政府与企业之间的务实对话。
The next stage is to move from complementarity alone toward joint capability: co-developing, co-investing and co-scaling in areas where Australian needs and Chinese capability meet. That is where Australia–China economic cooperation can create lasting value for both economies.
下一阶段的关键，是从“优势互补”进一步走向“互能”：在澳大利亚需求与中国能力相遇的地方，共同开发、共同投资、共同扩大规模。这才是中澳经贸合作能够为双方经济创造长期价值的方向。
The full interview is available on Phoenix TV’s official channels.
完整采访视频可在凤凰卫视官方渠道观看。
