PRC Study Tours

About China Matters PRC Study Tours

China Matters facilitates study tours to help elected officials and business leaders better understand the rise of the PRC and the complexities of the Australia-PRC relationship.

Led by China Matters Founding Director, Ms Linda Jakobson, the inaugural tour to Beijing was held in September 2018 and included the Hon Chris Bowen MP, Mr Julian Leeser MP, and Mr Andrew Parker, Partner, Head of Asia Practice of PwC Australia (and board director of China Matters). The second tour to Beijing, also led by Ms Jakobson, was held in September 2019 and included the Hon Richard Marles MP; the Hon Tanya Plibersek MP; Mr Ted O’Brien MP; Mr Kevin McCann, Chair of China Matters; Mr Brian Pontifex, Chief Advisor on Government Relations, Rio Tinto; and Ms Fiona Simson, President of the National Farmers’ Federation.

Participants on the tours met with PRC government officials, businesspeople, experts, economists, academics, and university students through informal meetings.

The meetings aimed to give the participants an understanding of the thoughts and aspirations of middle-class PRC citizens, how they view their society, the challenges ahead, and the PRC’s international role.

Former Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Dr Martin Parkinson AC PSM, and PRC Ambassador to Australia HE Mr Cheng Jingye, endorsed the China Matters Study Tour project on its inception in September 2018. Australia’s Ambassador to the PRC, HE Mr Graham Fletcher, also endorses this project.

China Matters funds the travel expenses of participating parliamentarians.

PRC Study Tours

Second PRC Study Tour, 23-26 September 2019, Beijing, People’s Republic of China.

Inaugural PRC Study Tour, 3-7 September 2018, Beijing, People’s Republic of China.