China eager to add to dairy haul SOME of China's most powerful corporations have openly declared their interest in making further investments in Australia's dairy industry as new federal Trade Minister Andrew Robb made his first visit to China. At a high-powered agribusiness investment round table in Shanghai as part of the Victorian government's super trade mission, the executives of leading Chinese companies stressed security of supply and food safety as key ongoing attractions of Australia's agricultural sector. The round table was attended by executives from the likes of Bright Group, ChemChina, Dalian Fortune Group, FOSUN, Shanghai Tangjiu Group, China State Farms, Xian Evergreen and Wahaha. The Australians in attendance included Mr Robb, Victorian Premier Denis Napthine, Costa Group chairman Frank Costa, Australian ambassador to China Frances Adamson and Victorian Minister for Agriculture and Food Security Peter Walsh. Dairy was a big topic of discussion in the context that major Chinese corporations want to invest in the supply chain. They want to make sure they have got continuous supply," Mr Walsh said after the briefing. Because of a number of food safety issues in China they are also very focused on food safety. Contamination scandals surrounding New Zealand dairy giant Fonterra have provided a fresh opportunity for Australia to market itself as a safe and secure supplier of dairy products to export markets. But a number of Chinese executives at the round table questioned the levels of bureaucracy in Australia that they said was providing an obstacle to investment. Mr Robb told the forum that the federal cabinet had given him the green light to push ahead with discussions for a China free trade deal. Tony Abbott has declared he wants a China FTA agreed within a year. But Mr Walsh said it was important that business got on with the job of pursuing export opportunities while the FTA talks continued. "There was a focus in the discussions in the round table about the need for an FTA to be resolved and that is true, but despite that there is some very good partnerships happening between Australia and China and business being done," Mr Walsh said. Waiting for a resolution of the FTA shouldn't stop business happening. Half the 300 Victorian businesses attending this week's trade mission are from the food and beverage sector. Mr Walsh met this week with China's Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine in Beijing to progress ongoing access to China for table grapes and to pursue opportunities for nectarine and cherry exports. Victoria produces the bulk of the nation's table grapes and stone fruit for export. Mr Walsh met director general Huang Guansheng, accompanied by Australia's chief plant protection officer, Vanessa Findlay, other officials from the commonwealth Department of Agriculture and representatives from industry. "It is the first time we have had everyone from Australia together," Mr Walsh said. We were able to demonstrate a united team Australia effort on the issues around protocols for horticulture imports. Damon Kitney travelled to Shanghai with the assistance of the Victorian Employers' Chamber of Commerce and Industry.