The Federal Trade Minister says Australia’s relationship with China is strong and mature, despite differences. 

China is our biggest trading partner with $175 billion worth of two-way trade between us.

Steve Ciobo tells Ben Fordham, both China and Australia recognise there are areas where they don’t agree.

“What’s important is, where we do have areas where we disagree that we do that in a respectful way.”

The Trade Minister points out we also have differences with most of our trading partners including Japan, USA, Korea and Indonesia.

But when it comes to China, Minister Ciobo says, “there is a predisposition among some to blow up incidents and events and make them bigger than they ought to be”.

He says we need to look at the relationship in its totality which he says is strong and mature – something that’s reflected in trade growth.

Full interview with Trade Minister Steve Ciobo below