Australian experts weigh in on BRI's role

Duncan Calder, past National and West Australia president of the Australia China Business Council and ambassador for Australia China Friendship Society West Australia, emphasized the importance of people-to-people relationships in promoting the bilateral ties of China and Australia.

Calder believes that people-to-people and organization-to-organization relationships can help to enhance government to government relationships. He said he has many close and loyal Chinese friends supporting each other during difficult times in their lives. He is just one example of hundreds of thousands of Australian people who have close Chinese friends.

Close relationships between Chinese and Australian people have driven trade, investment, artistic, cultural and sporting interactions, which is very critical to strengthen the Australia-China relationships, Calder said.