***Check against delivery***
E&OEÌý
GUO LINJIE:
Mr. Sheehy, thanks for taking CT team’s interview. The first question, so Prime Minister Albanese’s visit comes as more Chinese students look to study in Asia instead of Europe or North America, but Australia remains the top choice. So, in your view what keeps Australia attractive for Chinese students and how can both countries build on this momentum to grow student exchanges and university partnerships?
LUKE SHEEHY:
Well, thank you very much for having me and it’s wonderful to be talking about one of Australia’s greatest collaborations, which is between China and Australia with education at the center of our relationship. I’m so proud of the fact that nearly 200,000 Chinese students choose Australia as a destination to get a world-class education. And increasingly more Australians are going to China to engage in internship opportunities, exchange and other opportunities after they’ve studied. And that’s a great thing. Australia and China are complimentary economies and if we continue to work together, we continue to build prosperity for our people. As our prime minister and our business leaders have said on this current delegation, education is at the center of our relationship, and it has been for many decades. I hope that it continues to be the center of our relationship for decades to come. And I want to see more students choose Australia as a destination of choice. Australia is a welcoming country to Chinese students. We have world-class universities, we have safe streets, we have a great way of life and a lifestyle that we’re happy to share with students from China and right across nearly 140 countries in this great planet of ours.
GUO LINJIE:
I’m glad to hear that. And we’ve just seen the first China Australia innovative forum in Sydney, which focus on areas like green tech, health, digital economy, and AI. So, what role do you see Australian universities play in boosting joint research and where do you see the biggest opportunities ahead?
LUKE SHEEHY:
Well, Australia will benefit if it continues to do research with partners across the world. And it’s increasingly complicated with the world having more and more complex rules around collaboration. But I am delighted that nearly a third of Australia’s research is undertaken with partners in China. We can’t do research alone as Australia. We’re a small country so we benefit from the collaboration that we get from China. And looking at these innovation forums, things that are going to benefit both our countries, like a transition to a new green economy, dealing with limited resources, sustainability, how we use water better, how do we live in cities with lower impact on our planet and develop the new industries and technologies that will drive secure and well-paid jobs for both our people here in Australia and of course in China. Universities are central to that endeavor. We want to make sure that universities in Australia continue to work with our partners in China on important areas of research and development and skills creation so our people can continue to prosper from knowledge and research and development that drives our economic futures.
GUO LINJIE:
Yeah, that’s definitely a win-win cooperation, I have to say. So, looking ahead, what more can China and Australia do to build even more closer people to people ties through education? And are there any specific ideas or partnerships you’d like to see come out of this leaders’ meeting?
LUKE SHEEHY:
Well, I’m really thrilled that there are representatives from Australia’s university sector on the delegation with Prime Minister Albanese at the moment in China. That speaks loudly about the importance of education in our relationship with China. It is central to developing those people to people links and those economic and trade links that we so desperately want in Australia. And we are hopeful that China will want to continue as well. I’m really looking forward as well in October to be leading a delegation of more than seven vice chancellors from Australia to look at ways we can continue our research and development links with China and encourage more Australian students to come to China and of course continue that great tradition of many tens of thousands of Chinese students choosing Australia as a destination for their world-class education. We have 39 fantastic universities across Australia who are ready, willing, and able to take international students from China and right across the world for a world-class education. So, it’s important that we continue to work with China and seize those opportunities. Importantly, if we can work together, we can both build prosperity for our people and transition to the new economies in a more sustainable and long-term way.
GUO LINJIE:
Yeah, we are also looking forward to seeing that in a sustainable and long-term way. And that’s all for me. Thank you so much for making time for us, Mr. Sheehy. Thank you.
LUKE SHEEHY:
Thanks for having me.
ENDS
