Schedule for Andrews trip to China released
The schedule for Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews’ visit to China has been released.
Andrews will become the first Australian state or national leader to visit China since the start of the pandemic.
According to the schedule Andrews will meet Brett Stevens, Commissioner for Victoria to Greater China, Graham Fletcher, Australian Ambassador to China, Li Xukui, Vice President, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Huai Jinpeng, Minister of Education and Dr Yin Yong, Mayor of Beijing.
The Andrews government has faced criticism over its decision not to bring Victorian journalists on the trip.
Karen Percy, Media President of the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance, said scrutiny was crucial when it came to overseas trips.
“The decision by Andrews not to take journalists with him to China is deeply disappointing. A visit to a crucial trading partner at a crucial time needs media scrutiny. Govts across Oz pay lip service to press freedom & the public’s right to know,” Percy wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, a Chinese state-owned television channel has resurfaced an old interview with Andrews in which the Victorian premier praises his state’s relationship with the country amid his diplomatic visit this week.
Chinese state-owned media channel Phoenix Television posted an old interview with the Victorian premier.
In the old interview, believed to be from 2019, Andrews said there is no issue with countries having disagreements.
Tensions between the two nations are now rising once again following the signing of the AUKUS agreement earlier this month, which was heavily criticised by Beijing.
Andrews’ visit is the first by an Australian politician to China since the signing of the deal.
“You can have an honest dialogue, but it needs to be a respectful dialogue,” he said in the clip.
In the resurfaced vision, Andrews also spoke of the importance of the relationship between China and Victoria.
“The Chinese story is absolutely central to the Victorian story for more than 150 years,” he said, alluding to the thousands of Chinese miners who came to the then-colony during the gold rush of the mid-19th century.
“You can’t imagine a modern Victoria without the Chinese influence…
“We think the relationship and partnership with China is very, very important to Victoria, very important to Australia as well.”
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The trip is part of an effort by the Victorian government to entice Chinese students back to the state.
Phoenix TV is a Chinese state-owned media company based in Hong Kong that claims to “express the voice of Chinese to the world”.
Andrews’ trip has been heavily criticised by the opposition at both the state and federal level for leaving Australian media behind.
“I think all Victorians would want to know who Daniel Andrews is meeting,” Victorian Liberal MP David Southwick said on Monday.
“What’s the intention of the trip? And what’s the benefit to Victorians?” he said.
Andrews earlier defended the absence of local press, saying the trip wasn’t “picture friendly” and is composed of back-to-back meetings.
