Overview

• During Prime Minister Albanese’s state visit to Beijing, Ambassador Xiao Qian formally invited Australia to revise the decade-old free-trade agreement by adding provisions on AI, healthcare, green energy and the digital economy.
• China’s proposal seeks to reinforce traditional ties in agriculture and mining while unlocking new sectors to drive shared growth.
• Beijing positioned the expanded pact as a bulwark for multilateral trade and a countermeasure to unilateral tariffs from third countries.
• UNSW professor Toby Walsh and other experts warn that deep AI collaboration must navigate data sovereignty rules and safeguard sensitive information.
• Australian negotiators are now conducting detailed talks to balance economic opportunities with strategic protections.