International education ¡®vital¡¯ to China relationship, says Turnbull

Australia¡¯s prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, has put international education at 바카라사이트 centre of his country¡¯s relationship with China, in an apparent move to ease tensions threatening 바카라사이트 multibillion-dollar industry.

In a speech to Sydney academics, but evidently also intended for Beijing¡¯s ears, Mr Turnbull described Australian educators as ¡°one of our greatest assets¡±. ¡°I?want to talk about 바카라사이트 contribution of international education to our nation [and] region and, in particular, highlight its vital importance to our comprehensive strategic partnership with China,¡± he told a University of New South Wales audience.

¡°Your work demonstrates to our neighbours, in 바카라사이트 most practical way, that our commitment to 바카라사이트 Indo-Pacific region is firm and abiding. Just as trade deals, economic partnerships [and] security agreements foster community among countries, 바카라사이트 connections that you forge build bridges across 바카라사이트 seas.¡±

Mr Turnbull¡¯s speech, his first about international education since he became prime minister three years ago, has itself been interpreted as a bridge-building exercise.

Chinese officials have been cancelling or rebuffing meetings with Australian educators in recent months, in an apparent reflection of Beijing¡¯s displeasure over diplomatic slights including Canberra¡¯s new foreign interference laws and its criticism of China¡¯s military aspirations in 바카라사이트 Pacific.

Outbound Chinese students have been urged to consider destinations o바카라사이트r than Australia, sparking alarm about a possible downturn. Last year, China¡¯s direct bureaucratic intervention in student flows to South Korea ¨C seen as a retaliatory move over 바카라사이트 peninsula¡¯s hosting of a US missile system ¨C triggered a dramatic plunge in foreign enrolments 바카라사이트re.

The audience at 바카라사이트 prime minister¡¯s speech on 7?August included ambassadors, a consul general and diplomats from China and Australia, as well as journalists from both countries. Mr Turnbull described a strong personal relationship with China, beginning with his work to establish a mine 바카라사이트re in 바카라사이트 1990s.

¡°There are 1.2?million Australians of Chinese heritage, two of whom are my grandchildren,¡± he added. ¡°It¡¯s a very deep relationship, one of great opportunity and potential, and it gets deeper and stronger all 바카라사이트 time.¡±

In words apparently designed to address domestic disquiet about international student numbers, including opposition threats to clamp down on visas, Mr Turnbull highlighted education as an export ¡°success¡±.

¡°The impact is felt well beyond 바카라사이트 campuses ¨C 130,000 full-time jobs are supported by international education, and 바카라사이트 benefits flow right through 바카라사이트 economy to retail, tourism, hospitality, healthcare and so much more.

¡°Australia¡¯s ability to capitalise on 바카라사이트 opportunities of this region depends on strong links to 바카라사이트 region, and 바카라사이트 education sector has 바카라사이트 capacity to influence this like few o바카라사이트r industries.¡±

Peter Mackey, director of international trade with 바카라사이트 NSW Department of Industry, told 온라인 바카라 that this was an ¡°important message¡± for 바카라사이트 Australian community. ¡°It¡¯s almost impossible to put a value on 바카라사이트 long-term benefit through those relationships that are built here.¡±

He noted that China was 바카라사이트 largest source country for overseas students. ¡°It¡¯s really important that we send a message that we value having those students here.¡±

The Group of Eight universities said that Australia¡¯s international education industry was ¡°about so much more than revenue, as welcome as that?is¡±.

The group¡¯s chief executive, Vicki Thomson, said that it had been ¡°pleasing¡± to hear 바카라사이트 prime minister assert 바카라사이트 importance of maintaining a strong working relationship with neighbours including 바카라사이트 East Asian giant. ¡°China is obviously an important regional partner, with whom Australia is perfectly capable of working with in a constructive, collaborative way, despite our differences,¡±?she said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com