Daniel Andrews looks to expand relations outside Beijing into Chinese provinces
The Premier has ventured 10 hours outside China’s capital to meet with provincial leaders, deepening Victoria’s ties with the Chinese Communist Party.
Victoria
Don't miss out on the headlines from Victoria. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Premier Daniel Andrews has met with a local Chinese organisation to discuss the prospect of Victoria entering into more sister-city relationships with Chinese provinces.
According to a one-page daily briefing sent from the Premier‘s private office, Mr Andrews on Wednesday left Beijing to head to Nanjing, which is 10 hours south of the country’s capital.
Once in Nanjing, the Premier will meet with the Jiangsu Governor, Xu Kunlin and the party secretary of the CPC Jiangsu Provincial Committee, Xin Changxing.
On his first day in the country, Mr Andrews met with the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), which has previously been accused by the US government of seeking to “directly and malignly influence” state leaders.
Mr Andrews‘ office stated that the meeting with CPAFFC vice president, Li Xukui, was to discuss current sister state arrangements and provinces where Victoria should focus “future effort”.
The provinces of Shandong and Henan were reportedly named as potential future sites.
The daily briefing also stated that Mr Andrews and Mr Xukui discussed the prospect of traditional Chinese medicine companies visiting Melbourne.
The Premier‘s private office also said that Mr Andrews had “a very positive meeting” with China’s Education Minister Huai Jinpeng.
“ … The Premier reinforced that Chinese students are safe and respected in Victoria. The Minister indicated Chinese parents would be more likely to send their children to study in Victoria than other places,” the briefing letter stated.
It added that the Premier offered to share Victoria‘s insight into providing special needs education after the Chinese government expressed a push to reform its education sector.
During his discussion with Beijing‘s mayor, Yin Yong, the Premier spruiked his plan to bring back the SEC and discussed ways to collaborate on tourism, innovation, investment and education.
Mr Andrews‘ trip has been widely criticised after he refused to allow journalists to attend China, which is the biggest jailer of journalists.
Instead, the media has been forced to rely on a one-page trip schedule and meeting notes from the Premier‘s office.
Would you pay nearly $50K a year to send a child to school?
Annual fees at one Melbourne private school will next year be set at nearly $50,000 for year ten students — and it’s not the only elite Victorian college that’s jacked up fees for 2025.
‘It’s shocking’: Grieving brother will never forgive Daylesford driver
The devastated brother of a mother and young daughter killed when a car smashed into a Daylesford beer garden has spoken of his shock after the diabetic driver walked free.