Australian agriculture minister to focus on free trade in meeting with China

    Australian agriculture minister Tony Burke said on Wednesday a free trade agreement with China and discussions on importing traditional Chinese medicines will be brought up during the meeting with China and Hong Kong.

    "As major agriculture-producing nations, Australia and China have a shared interest in reducing barriers to international trade," Burke said in a statement.

    The agreements will help Australian winemakers tap into the region's growing market, Burke said.

    Burke has flown to China to push Australia's support for agricultural trade in the Asia-Pacific region.

    Burke will seek an agreement from China to work collaboratively on supporting global food supplies and will try to step up negotiations on a free trade agreement with China.

    During his trip, Burke will also attend a G8 agriculture ministers' meeting to discuss global food security and climate change, and the 2009 International Forum on Chinese Medicine, where discussions will focus on bilateral trade.