The long-awaited free trade agreement between Australia and China will be signed at a time when community concerns about Sino investment is on the rise.
Trade Minister Andrew Robb and Chinese Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng will formalise the agreement in Canberra on Wednesday.
Mr Robb says the agreement will open the vast Chinese market for Australian investment, primary products and services.
"The landmark agreement will lock in our existing trade relationship with our largest trading partner, and will be a catalyst for future growth across goods, services and investment," he told AAP.
The agreement will ensure 85 per cent of all Australian exports will enter China tariff-free, rising to 93 per cent within four years and 95 per cent when it is in full force.
China is Australia's top trading partner, with the two-way flow of goods and services exceeding $160 billion last year.
Prime Minister Tony Abbott said the China FTA, plus similar agreements with Japan and South Korea, meant 95 per cent of Australian exports would soon be tariff-free.
"This is what happens when you've got a government which is open for business, when you've got a government with a plan, a plan to deliver a safe, strong and prosperous future for everyone," he told parliament on Tuesday.
The FTA will also promote further Australian investment in China and Chinese investment in Australia - a sensitive issue because of rising community concern about Chinese acquisition of farms and real estate.
The issue is highlighted in a poll by the strategic and security thinktank the Lowy Institute.
As in previous years, the poll contains mixed findings on China.
Fewer people (39 per cent of the 1200 people surveyed - down nine points since the 2014 poll) say it's likely that China will become a military threat to Australia in the next 20 years.
Many more Australians (77 per cent) see China as more of an economic partner than a military threat.
But 70 per cent say the government allows too much Chinese investment in Australian residential real estate.
When it comes to real estate investment from the Middle East, 50 per cent say there's too much, Japan 47 per cent, Russia 37 per cent, USA and Europe both 34 per cent.
Share
