Selfies, hushed huddles: Inside Albanese’s CEO conclave in China

Many of the Australian executives are old China hands who say they are witnessing a lucrative transformation that their businesses cannot miss out on.

Jessica SierNorth Asia correspondent

Jul 16, 2025 – 4.49pm

Email LinkedIn Twitter Facebook

Subscribe to gift this article

Gift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.

Subscribe now

Already a subscriber?

Beijing | In the palatial grandeur of Beijing’s Great Hall of the People, beneath a chandelier the size of a small car, Australian business leaders gathered this week for the 8th Australia-China CEO Roundtable.

It was a scene thick with theatre and diplomacy. Minutes earlier, they’d watched Prime Minister Anthony Albanese make his way to the high table through a ceremonial guard of honour, as dozens of cameras popped away.

Jessica Sier is the North Asia Correspondent for The Australian Financial Review. She is based in Tokyo, Japan. Jessica has previously written on technology, global capital markets and economics.