The Chinese are worried about the mining reforms that Australia is planning. With the proposed mining tax coming up the Chinese diplomat Ouyang Cheng warned it would be difficult for Australia and China to maintain a healthy and steady economic co-operation unless reforms to foster Chinese investment were made.
Mr Cheng was recently appointed as the second secretary for economic and commercial affairs at the Chinese embassy in Canberra. He was speaking in Adelaide in the Australian resources Chinese Investment Congress.
In what was an unusually frank and direct speech Mr Cheng said that many Chinese companies were highly concerned about the Gillard government’s MRRT bill. He also highlighted that there was a need for less red tape in the minerals and energy sector to encourage Chinese investment. He asked Australia to solve the problem of skilled labor shortage as well.
Mr Cheng said that they were hoping that the Australian government could make more efforts to address the concerns and solve the difficulties of the Chinese enterprises in Australia during their projects' application and operation. He also said that Chinese state owned companies should not be discriminated against.
There was also a suggestion for a regular consultation mechanism being established between the Chinese embassy and Australian federal and state governments to enhance communication and solve problems. His comments came a week after Bob Brown the Greens leader said that the Australian mineral resources were owned more by foreigners than by locals.