Australia immigration row with China will not stop $50b business deal
August 19 2009 by Matt Jones
rebiya Kadeer's Australia visa won't stop deal
China cancelled a high profile visit to Australia yesterday after Australian Immigration granted a visa for an exiled Chinese leader. But that still did not stop a $50 billion trade deal between the two nations.
In Australia’s biggest ever trade deal in their history, $50 billion worth of natural gas will be supplied to China over the next 20 years.
The announcement of the deal comes as a surprise, after relations between the two countries soured when an Australia visa was granted to suspected inciter of religious violence, Rebiya Kadeer.
The Chinese describe Kadeer as a terrorist, but Australian immigration saw no reason to deny her a visa.
Hugh White, Defence analyst said: ''Clearly the Chinese are disappointed in Kevin Rudd and irritated over the Government's handling of a range of issues. But this doesn't threaten the fundamental dynamics of the relationship. There is too much at stake for both sides.''
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