Australia's booth proves a major draw as the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) opens at Shougang Park in Beijing on September 10, 2025. Photo: VCG

Australia has a great opportunity to ramp up exports to China and deepen cooperation in high value-added and knowledge-intensive industries in trade with China as the world's second-largest economy pushes for the digital, intelligent and green transformation of services trade, head of Australian accounting organization CPA Australia told Global Times on Thursday.

CPA Australia is among some 60 Australian organizations and companies attending this year's China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS). Australia is the guest country of honor at the 2025 CIFTIS, bringing the largest-ever delegation. From wines to health products, Australian brands are present at this year's CIFTIS in record numbers, eyeing opportunities in China's vast market.

Dale Pinto, president and chair of the board of CPA Australia, told Global Times that China is vigorously advancing the digital, intelligent, and green transformation of services trade and "this signals the rising demand for cross-border education, financial services, green technology cooperation, and healthcare and aged-care services."

For Australia, this presents opportunities to diversify exports to China and deepen cooperation in high value-added and knowledge-intensive industries, Pinto said. "Australia benefits from revenue gained from services export to China in these areas while China also mutually benefits from the high-quality services imported from Australia."

According to Pinto, China has been Australia's largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years, accounting for nearly one-third of Australia's total trade. The economic and trade relationship between China and Australia plays a pivotal role in Australia's economy.

"In particular, against the backdrop of rising trade protectionism and unilateralism in the world this year, the stability of China-Australia trade has become even more significant," said Pinto.

The huge demand from green transition in China created new cooperation chances in areas such as clean energy, carbon management, sustainable finance, and green technologies to international markets including Australia, said Pinto.

Pinto pointed out that nearly 40 percent of China's total electricity power is generated from renewable sources such as solar and wind in the first half of this year, and "the demand for carbon management, sustainability disclosure and green-finance services is set to surge."

Services export has been a major revenue resource in Australia, with strengths in education and tourism, among others. 

Song Wei, a professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Thursday that the two countries have great potential to further expand trade in services, banking on economic complementarity.

"China's expanding middle-income population is fueling sustained demand for services and Australia has the supply of service products suitable for the Chinese market. The key areas are education, financial services and tourism. The two countries have great potential for cooperation, driven by China's continued economic recovery," Song said.

China's services trade has shown steady growth. According to official data, in the first half of this year, China's total services trade value reached 3.9 trillion yuan ($547.66 billion), up 8 percent year-on-year, setting a record high.