Australia's Victoria State unveils its latest five-year China Strategy in Beijing on September 16, 2025. Photo: Screenshot of social media of Victoria State's Premier

Premier Jacinta Allan of the Australian state of Victoria recently concluded a five-day visit to China, stressing the value of international education in fostering trust and friendship. 

Australian local media outlet The Age reported on September 21 that shortly before flying back to Australia, Allan said that international education was "the truest form of securing the future." She added that when you have got kids learn language and culture through education opportunities, they are building trust, collegiality and friendships that "are going to provide a more secure world into the future because they understand one another." 

During her trip, Allan met with China's Education Minister Huai Jinpeng in Beijing on September 15. After the meeting, the two sides jointly witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a joint working group at the division level.

According to China's Ministry of Education, Allan said that Victoria highly values its educational cooperation with China, has always welcomed Chinese students to study in the state, and is willing to strengthen language and cultural exchanges. She added that Victoria would support universities in carrying out educational and research cooperation in areas of the state's strengths.

A Chinese expert emphasized that in the current international climate, deeper people-to-people exchanges and closer educational cooperation between China and Australia are vital to building mutual trust and helping stabilize relations between the two nations.

On the same day as the meeting, the Victorian government released a policy paper titled Victoria's China Strategy: For a New Golden Era. The strategy states that China is "a key source of international students and visitors" and sets as a major objective to "strengthen Victoria's reputation as a global destination for Chinese visitors, students, researchers, and investors."

When Chinese students return home after their studies, they carry with them a sense of familiarity and goodwill toward Australia, which becomes an important bridge for mutual understanding and trust between the two countries, Chen Hong, director of the Asia-Pacific Studies Center at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Sunday. 

"The international student experience is not just about education, it is also a cultural experience. Victoria's move to deepen educational cooperation with China is a forward-looking step and a clear response to the anti-globalization sentiment and the stigmatization of Chinese students in some Western countries," Chen noted.

International education has been Victoria's largest services export since 2002, its government showed on the official website. In 2024, the sector generated $15.9 billion and included around 330,000 international enrolments in Victoria, of which 64,300 were Chinese international students (almost 30 per cent of Australia's total Chinese international enrolments). 

Meanwhile, international students also drive significant tourism outcomes for the State, including visitation to regional Victoria, according to government data.

Chen added that Allan's visit will further consolidate bilateral education ties and set an example for other states. "Amid global uncertainty, China and Australia have shown broad consensus on stabilizing and advancing relations," he said.