On June 14, Consul General Shi Weiqiang met at the Consulate General with Andrew Shearer, special advisor to Premier of Victoria and the panel chair of Victoria's Approach to International Engagement report. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on developing the relations between China and Victoria in the fields of politics, business, culture and education.

                          

Shi said, China and Victoria share a long history of friendly exchanges, especially in recent years, the bilateral relations are consistently moving forward in a steady manner, mutual communication is deepening, the mutually-beneficial cooperation is increasingly close across the board, and encouraging outcomes have been attained. Taking celebrating 40^th anniversary of China-Australia diplomatic ties as an opportunity, the Chinese side is ready to work with all walks in Victoria, to continue tapping into cooperation potentials and enriching cooperation connotation so as to push the bilateral relations up onto a new level. Shi also gave his opinions on improving the investment and study environment in Australia for Chinese businessmen and overseas students, intensifying the contacts between Victoria and China's central and western regions.

Shearer appreciated Consul General taking time to meet him, agreed on his views over further developing mutually-beneficial cooperation between China and Victoria, and thought of these insights conducive to the Victoria's Approach to International Engagement report.

Deputy Consul General Huang Fengwen, counselor-level education consul Guo Xiaojuan, counselor-level business consul Liu Yu and overseas Chinese affairs consul Zhang Xiaotao were present at the meeting.

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu appointed Shearer as his special advisor this February, in charge of compiling the Victoria's Approach to International Engagement report. As a significant document of Victorian government in this year concerning its foreign guidelines, the report aims to provide policy references to government on promoting the economic growth and stepping up the exchanges and cooperation with emerging economies including China.