Why China?
Queensland and China share deep cultural, social and economic ties dating back to the 19th century, when Chinese migrants worked in the goldfields of North Queensland and helped to establish the region’s agricultural industry.
Today, China is Queensland’s largest trading partner and remains vital to our State's future prosperity.
It is also a significant source of foreign investment to Australia, and the state’s largest source of international student enrolments.
Queensland-China Trade and Investment Strategy 2025
Our Queensland-China Trade and Investment Strategy 2025 strengthens the Queensland-China trade and investment relationship to support our clients, investors, and education providers to achieve commercial success and jobs growth in key opportunity areas.
It identifies strategic priorities to support business opportunities in areas such as health, advanced manufacturing, energy, food and agribusiness and education and training.
This Strategy reflects Queensland’s commitment to strong partnerships across China.
Watch our Greater China Market Update Webinar
Queensland’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for Greater China, Rhett Miller and guest speaker David Olsson AM, National President and Chair of the Australia China Business Council, share insights on China’s economic outlook, the new Queensland-China Trade and Investment Strategy 2025 and opportunities to further grow Queensland trade, investment and education outcomes with our largest trading partner.
China is the world's second largest economy, driving one-third of global growth
China is Australia's fifth largest source of foreign direct investment
*Combined total of Mainland China and Hong Kong Special administrative region.
China is Queensland's largest trading partner and export market
Key partnerships
Queensland has strong market access for exporters offered by free trade agreements.
These include the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), Australia-Hong Kong Free Trade Agreement (A-HKFTA), and Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) has enabled Queensland businesses to benefit from agreed tariff reductions across a range of exports. ChAFTA eliminates or reduces tariffs on exports like coal, LNG, beef, dairy, wine, and various manufactured goods. Additionally, it enhances market access for Australian services sectors such as education, healthcare, and finance.
Queensland exporters and delegates at China International Import Expo (CIIE).
Attractive opportunities for Queensland businesses
China now possesses the world's largest middle class and continues to offer significant opportunities for Queensland companies.
Queensland's export strengths continue to complement Chinese demand and offer opportunities across food and agriculture, complementary medicine, health, design and education.
Opportunities for investment and partnerships exist in commercially viable renewables, traditional energy, infrastructure and advanced manufacturing.
Buyers connecting with Queensland exporters at China International Import Expo (CIIE).
Opportunities and challenges
- Projected growth of e-commerce and rising disposable incomes in China’s lower tier cities are opening new export opportunities for Queensland’s food, agriculture, and health products.
- The Greater Bay Area’s focus on connectivity, market access, and innovation offers potential for Queensland firms in health, design, digital trade and infrastructure.
- China’s demand for high-quality healthcare and clinical trials continues to grow, creating a strategic opening for Queensland’s capability in these areas.
- Queensland can partner with China to support its continued need for traditional energy as well as investment and partnership in commercially-viable renewables.
- China’s focus on addressing youth unemployment and further development of higher education and vocational training creates opportunities for Queensland to expand partnerships in skills-based education and career-focused learning pathways.
- Favourable market access for Queensland exporters exists through trade agreements such as ChAFTA, RECP, and A-HKFTA.
- Queensland’s collaboration with the Australia China Business Council (ACBC), Austrade and DFAT strengthens bilateral trade and investment ties by providing a platform for Queensland businesses to engage with Chinese counterparts, access market insights, and participate in high-level policy and industry dialogues.
- The Australia-China bilateral relationship is complicated owing to the fact that each has different political systems as well as differences in views on a range of important issues.
- The application of trade restrictions and tariffs by the US on China will likely weaken gross domestic product (GDP) growth of the latter and may weaken demand for key Queensland exports, especially commodities.
- Economic headwinds including a struggling property sector, overall weak consumer sentiment, and youth unemployment will likely continue to limit GDP growth.
- A complex and sometimes rapidly changing regulatory landscape in and in relation to China can present risks and challenges for Queensland businesses.
Greater China major activities FY25–26
Food and Agriculture
When: 06 March 2026
Where: Macau
Sector: Food and Agriculture
Details: A networking event in partnership with MLA featuring Queensland premium beef and launching of a four-week Queensland special menu promotion in a five-star hotel in Macau to grow exports of beef products.
Where: Macau
Sector: Food and Agriculture
Details: A networking event in partnership with MLA featuring Queensland premium beef and launching of a four-week Queensland special menu promotion in a five-star hotel in Macau to grow exports of beef products.
When: 20 April - 7 May 2026
Where: Guangzhou
Sector: Food and Agriculture
Details: Three-week food promotion featuring Queensland food ingredients and packaged food in partnership with TEQ and the Chimelong Safari Park Hotel in Guangzhou.
Where: Guangzhou
Sector: Food and Agriculture
Details: Three-week food promotion featuring Queensland food ingredients and packaged food in partnership with TEQ and the Chimelong Safari Park Hotel in Guangzhou.
Health, Innovation and Technology
When: 10 March 2026
Where: Shanghai
Sector: Health and Innovation
Details: Workshop in partnership with the Academy for Clinical Innovation & Translation of Shanghai (ACITS) to promote Queensland clinical trials capability and discuss potential collaboration opportunities.
Where: Shanghai
Sector: Health and Innovation
Details: Workshop in partnership with the Academy for Clinical Innovation & Translation of Shanghai (ACITS) to promote Queensland clinical trials capability and discuss potential collaboration opportunities.
When: 12 -15 May 2026
Where: Shanghai, Shenzhen
Sector: Health and Biomedical
Details: Seminar and business matching events to promote Queensland biomedical research and clinical trial capabilities and potential collaboration with Chinese pharmaceutical companies which will include access to DIA 2026 one of China’s largest drug development events.
When: 11 - 15 May 2026
Where: Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Sector: Health and Medical Technology
Details: A Queensland medtech delegation to participate in the Asia Summit on Global Health in conjunction with Austrade in Hong Kong and a program in Shenzhen to promote trade and investment opportunities for Queensland medtech companies in China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA) leveraging the GBA Connect scheme.
Where: Hong Kong, Shenzhen
Sector: Health and Medical Technology
Details: A Queensland medtech delegation to participate in the Asia Summit on Global Health in conjunction with Austrade in Hong Kong and a program in Shenzhen to promote trade and investment opportunities for Queensland medtech companies in China’s Greater Bay Area (GBA) leveraging the GBA Connect scheme.
When: 15 May 2026
Where: Shenzhen
Sector: Medical and Education
Details: Workshop and networking event with Queensland CROs, medtech companies, alumni and members of the local health-sector business community in Shenzhen and Hong Kong focused on the clinical trial and medtech sectors. Queensland CROs participating in the Clinical Trials Roadshow and Queensland medtech companies participating in the Asia Summit on Global Health Medtech Delegation will join the event.
Where: Shenzhen
Sector: Medical and Education
Details: Workshop and networking event with Queensland CROs, medtech companies, alumni and members of the local health-sector business community in Shenzhen and Hong Kong focused on the clinical trial and medtech sectors. Queensland CROs participating in the Clinical Trials Roadshow and Queensland medtech companies participating in the Asia Summit on Global Health Medtech Delegation will join the event.
Education
When: 9-11 April 2026
Where: Beijing
Sector: Education
Details: Study Queensland Booth at one of China’s largest education events, CIEET, to promote recruitment and partnerships for Queensland education providers in the higher education, VET, schools, and ELICOS sectors.
Where: Beijing
Sector: Education
Details: Study Queensland Booth at one of China’s largest education events, CIEET, to promote recruitment and partnerships for Queensland education providers in the higher education, VET, schools, and ELICOS sectors.
When: 12-18 April 2026
Where: Hong Kong, Macau, Zhuhai, Guangzhou
Sector: Education
Details: Workshops with education agents and institutional partners focused on boosting recruitment and partnerships for Queensland education providers across the higher education, VET, schools, ELICOS and student accommodation sectors.
Where: Hong Kong, Macau, Zhuhai, Guangzhou
Sector: Education
Details: Workshops with education agents and institutional partners focused on boosting recruitment and partnerships for Queensland education providers across the higher education, VET, schools, ELICOS and student accommodation sectors.
When: 19-20 April 2026
Where: Shanghai
Sector: Education
Details: Study Queensland Booth at one of China’s largest education events, CIEET, to promote recruitment and partnerships for Queensland education providers in the higher education, VET, schools, and ELICOS sectors.
Where: Shanghai
Sector: Education
Details: Study Queensland Booth at one of China’s largest education events, CIEET, to promote recruitment and partnerships for Queensland education providers in the higher education, VET, schools, and ELICOS sectors.
When: 20 April 2026
Where: Shanghai
Sector: Education
Details: A talent employability session in partnership with CSCSE to continue repositioning the Study Queensland brand as employability-focused, promote career support for students and graduates, and facilitate opportunities for joint programs.
Where: Shanghai
Sector: Education
Details: A talent employability session in partnership with CSCSE to continue repositioning the Study Queensland brand as employability-focused, promote career support for students and graduates, and facilitate opportunities for joint programs.
Meet Rhett Miller 雷米乐先生
Queensland Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner – China
Rhett Miller commenced as Queensland’s Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner to Greater China in August 2023.
He is responsible for leading Trade and Investment Queensland’s team in Mainland China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
Rhett has extensive experience in international market development having previously worked with Austrade as Trade and Investment Commissioner and Deputy Consul-General (Commercial) at the Australian Consulate-General in Chengdu and Trade Commissioner (Education) (North Asia) at the Australian Consulate-General in Shanghai.
Resources
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