ASM
Chinese-Australian Spatial Relations
The Chinese ambassador to Australia, Zhang Junsai, has called for improved co-operation between China and Australia in the development of spatial technology.
The ambassador pointed out that a considerable amount of co-operation already exists between the two countries. Chinese authorities sent satellite data to Australians managing bushfires in Victoria in February. Australian researchers sent important data based on radar interferometry to China during the Wenchuan Earthquake last year.
Speaking at a conference in Canberra on 15 June, he pointed to existing relationships between Wuhan University, China's principal source of geospatial skills, and the major spatial research organisation in Australia, the Co-operative Research Centre for Spatial Information.
The ambassador remarked that this is just a subset of the closer relationship between China and Australia that has emerged during the last decade. Almost 120,000 Chinese students study in Australia; 350,000 Chinese tourists visit the country every year. 20 per cent of Australian exports go to China. Two-way trade between the countries is almost $60 billion.
This just underscores a point made by Australian politicians in recent months: that the good performance of the Australian economy in the midst of the global financial crisis depends as much on Chinese demand as on good management.
The ambassador suggested that the crisis is as much an opportunity as a threat. He called for an increase in investment in R&D by both countries. He said Australia had excellent research facilities and China an almost unlimited market; both countries need to attach more importance to science.
China and Australia both need to focus on developing systems for mutually important priorities, such as environmental management and minerals exploration, he said. He also confirmed that China was eager to co-operate with Australia in the development of the space industry.
