Australia, China to expand education and tourism co-operation

Australia expects to further expand its co-operation with China in international education and tourism.

Richard Colbeck, Minister for Tourism and International Education presented a speech at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies in the Guangdong provincial capital on Friday.

Here is Colbeck's speech:

"Australia and China have a very long and productive history of education co-operation, stretching back over many decades. Australia places great value on the educational partnerships that have been built between China and Australia.

Australian universities have over 1,200 formal agreements with Chinese universities. The Australian government is committed to strengthening and diversifying education partnerships with China to ensure that they continue delivering mutual benefits while keeping its pace with demand for high quality education in China.

International education and tourism have become two of Australia's super-growth sectors for the next decade as Australia transitions from a resources based economy to one supported by a modern service sector that is fully integrated with global networks.

Australia offers world class education teaching, learning and research opportunities to international students and we welcome their contribution to our multicultural lifestyle. Australia is ranked the third, after the United States and UK, for attracting international students and we will be working hard to ensure our place among the global leaders in education is maintained.

International education, foreign students are already Australia's 4th biggest export earner and China is predicted to drive great growth in demand in the future. According to the minister, there are about 136,000 Chinese students studying in Australia in 2015, consisting 27.3 percent of all international students in the country, the highest of any nationality. And it is of great potential for Australia and China to expand their co-operation in the tourism industry in the years to come."

Colbeck met Lan Fo'an, deputy governor of Guangdong province, to discuss the expansion of ties between Australia and Guangdong province. Colbeck also visited Beijing and Shanghai before arriving in Guangzhou.

Australia's most valuable tourism market is the Chinese tourists who bring in a record $6.3 billion per year.

Chinese visitor arrivals in Australia increased from 100,000 in 2000 to one million last year.

Chinese expenses in Australia have increased by more than 400 percent in the past decade, from $1.5 billion Australian dollars in 2005 to A$7.7 billion Australian dollars in 2015.