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Record exports from Aussie state to China result of Chinese president's visit: expert

Xinhua, January 8, 2016 Adjust font size:

Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the Australian state of Tasmania in late 2014 is being heralded as a major factor in producing record levels of exports from Tasmania to China for 2015.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Friday estimated that China was the single largest importer of Tasmanian goods and services, making up 24.6 percent of all exports from the island state.

Seafood exports to China alone soared by 85 percent in 2015 on the back of the Chinese president's visit, according to Tasmanian Seafood Industry Council chief executive Julian Harrington.

"In part, it is due to the visit of the Chinese president in November 2014," Harrington told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Friday.

He said that species such as rock lobster were particularly popular in Asia.

"Rock lobster is one of those good stories, despite considerable cuts in the total allowable catch."

"The beach price has increased significantly, and seen the value of that fishery increase from 45 million U.S dollars a couple of years ago to currently around 60 million."

Harrington added that the free trade agreement with China would continue to produce great opportunities for Tasmanian businesses thinking about exporting to China.

"With the reduction of tariffs, we'd hope to see a whole range of products enter the export market into China," he said.

According to Harrington, the number of farmed salmon and oysters being exported to China was already increasing.

Under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), more tariffs will be cut or reduced between the two nations in coming months, meaning further export opportunities for Australian businesses. Endit