China and Australia hold the 5th Strategic Economic Dialogue via video link on December 19, 2025. Photo: National Development and Reform Commission

China and Australia held the 5th Strategic Economic Dialogue via video link on Friday, during which both sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on topics such as the global economic outlook, China-Australia macroeconomic conditions, and investment policies and trends between the two countries, according to the report published on the official WeChat account of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planner, on Friday.

The event was presided by the head of the NDRC Zheng Shanjie and Australian Treasurer Jim Chalmers. Other government officials on both sides also participated in the meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Zheng said that China's economy continues to improve and that successive five-year plans are being steadily advanced. During the period of the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), China's high-quality economic development will inject greater stability and certainty into the global economy and bring more development opportunities to countries around the world, the official said.

China will continue to expand high-level opening-up, promote innovative development of trade, and broaden the space for two-way investment cooperation, he said.

China and Australia are important sources and destinations of investment for each other, and the resumption of the China-Australia Investment Working Group will help both sides strengthen communication and deepen investment cooperation, Zheng said, extending his hopes for Australia to provide a fair, transparent, and predictable business environment for Chinese enterprises investing in Australia. The NDRC head also welcomed Australian companies to actively invest in China so as to jointly expand the pie of win-win China-Australia cooperation.

The dialogue took place on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the entry into force of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, and it was also the first time in a decade that the dialogue has been held for two consecutive years.

Chalmers said that China is Australia's largest trading partner. The two economies are highly complementary, and a strong and stable investment and trade relationship will bring tangible benefits to both sides. Australia hopes to deepen economic engagement with China through mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, the Australian official said.

The Australian side also expressed its willingness to work with China to make full use of the China-Australia Investment Working Group, expand the scale of investment and trade, create more jobs and development opportunities for the two peoples, and deliver greater cooperation dividends for businesses in both countries, according to the report.

Global Times