Chinese goods win Australian hearts with high quality

Made-in-China consumer products have won praise at a major trade show in Australia, with importers, industry representatives and experts noting that the products are now increasingly recognized for their high quality, surpassing their previous reputation for reliable supply at low cost.

"There's certainly been a great change in quality over the years. China is now the world's best producer of products of all kinds because the Chinese people are very creative, industrious and innovative," said James Huey, managing director of China Westbridge Advisory Services, a Sydney-based firm which helps connect businesses and investments between Australia and China.

"We're seeing a lot of new products coming onto the market, and the quality is very good, so it's a great opportunity," Huey told China Daily, noting that importers and exporters on both sides are leveraging stable, complementary ties amid a dynamic global marketplace.

Speaking on the sidelines of the China Commodity Fair Australia, or CCFA, which opened in Sydney on Thursday, the business consultant added: "Australia doesn't have a very strong manufacturing base, what we can do in Australia is probably add value to products … do some processing of them here. I don't think we can compete with the high level of technology China is using in its manufacturing."

CCFA, now in its second edition after the inaugural fair last year, kicked off a three-day event in Sydney this week. The specialized consumer goods exhibition, the largest of its kind, featured more than 200 exhibitors showcasing 5,000 products, ranging from household items and home appliances to consumer electronics, sports equipment, and stationery, according to organizers.

In his message for the event, Chinese Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said that with China and Australia enjoying close economic and trade relations, cooperation in consumer products "not only constitutes an important part of our bilateral trade, but also serves as a bridge that enhances exchanges and mutual trust between our peoples".

The fair "provides a valuable platform for enterprises of both countries to showcase their brands, expand markets, and deepen collaboration, injecting fresh momentum into our economic ties", he said.

High-quality products from China will better meet the diverse needs of Australian consumers, while also creating favorable conditions and new opportunities for Australian businesses to better understand and engage with the Chinese market, he added.

Largest trading partner

China is Australia's largest trading partner, and the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, effective since December 2015, has built on Australia's large and successful commercial relationship with China, according to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The elimination of tariffs on a wide range of Chinese goods entering Australia has made Chinese consumer goods more affordable and accessible to Australian consumers.

Nick Barth, Australia and New Zealand representative for Messe Frankfurt, one of the world's largest trade fair organizers, which helped bring together the participants of the CCFA, told China Daily that the trade show is a "great avenue and door opener for Chinese manufacturers and suppliers to the Australian market".

He called it "a wonderful showcase for Chinese companies in Australia", adding, "We welcome them with open arms."

"Chinese products are fantastic, they're good quality now," he said. "The Australian buyers, the reason that they're here, is for the quality and to form good relationships."

Zhang Shanshan, general manager of the houseware division at Ningbo General Union, one of the fair's Chinese exhibitors, said her company's focus has been mainly on more established markets, such as European countries, but it is now looking to tap into the potential of Australian consumers.

"The scale and volume may not be as large as other Western markets, but the purchasing power here is significant," Zhang told China Daily.

For Jorge Kassis, national manager, strategic sales, at Australian freight services provider Border Express, the fair offered an important opportunity to connect product suppliers with distributors in Australia.

The Chinese market is extremely important amid the economic headwinds facing various sectors, Kassis said.

Contact the writers at xinxin@chinadaily.com.cn.