The Victorian Labor premier has defended his proposal to send every member of his ministry – from the minister for trade to the minister for racing – to China before the next state election.
Daniel Andrews himself intends to visit Beijing every year to boost trade and explore further investment opportunities between the two countries. China is the state’s biggest trading partner, with merchandise trade valued at more than $18.8bn in 2013-14.
Speaking to ABC radio from Beijing on Tuesday morning, where he is on a trip to consult with the Chinese government on Victoria’s new China Strategy, Andrews said sending his entire ministry on the trip down the track was justified, and denied his own visit was a junket.
“I make no apologies for being here on behalf of Victoria,” he said.
“If you want to do business with China and grow jobs, then you have to come here and you have to make sure that you show that you’re serious about that partnership. If I’m criticised for doing that, then so be it.
“This is a massive nation, it is a rapidly changing economy, and there’s every reason for every minister to be here to talk about possibilities.”
His visit comes as the federal government tries to secure parliamentary backing for the China-Australia free trade agreement, which unions have argued could jeopardise Australian jobs.
The federal opposition leader, Bill Shorten, has called for legislative “safeguards” to protect local job opportunities, a push that was rebuffed by the former prime minister Tony Abbott. Shorten has now written to Malcolm Turnbull seeking talks to find a way forward.
Andrews has previously described the free trade agreement as a “good deal” that would boost Victorian jobs.
On Tuesday the state government also announced a landmark deal had been struck between Victorian technology company RayGen Resources and Chinese partner company Juye Solar that will create 200 jobs for Victoria.
Andrews attended the signing ceremony in Beijing which will see a manufacturing plant for concentrated solar photovoltaic systems constructed in Blackburn. Up to 500 megawatts of concentrated solar photovoltaic power plants will be built in China over the next five years as part of the agreement.
Andrews seems to be enjoying his first overseas trip since becoming premier in November, tweeting a series of photographs from Beijing, including one from the historic Temple of Heaven with the caption: “Where Gough Whitlam visited as Prime Minister in 1973”.
Andrews also said he had met with the former prime minister, Tony Abbott – who he has had a strained relationship with – barely two days after he lost the leadership spill to Malcolm Turnbull.
The pair had a “cup of tea and a chat” while Andrews was in Canberra last week to sign up to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.
“It was the right thing to do, to wish him all the best personally,” Andrews said.
“To him and his family it’s a pretty rough time to go through.”
