China's telecom giant opens Australian operations

SYDNEY - Global telecommunications giant China Unicom has officially started operations in Australia on Friday, contributing to the construction of the Australia-China "information silk road" and deepening the bilateral relationship.

Telecommunications between China and Australia have been lackluster in the past with communications having to travel via the United States despite the two countries high bilateral trade volume.

Services trade volume between China-Australia in the 2013-14 financial year reached $7.21 billion, however, Deputy Consul General of the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Sydney, Tang Ying, said it is expected to increase dramatically in the coming decade following the signing of the Sino-Australia Free Trade Agreement.

"We hope that China Unicom will take advantage of this historic opportunity... by optimizing the bilateral resources and by upgrading the quality of the services which will eventually benefit both countries," Tang said at the launch event in Sydney on Friday.

China Unicom is a global provider of telecommunications services to governments and peoples alike.

Its international network covers 100 countries and regions with both land and submarine telecommunications cables.

China Unicom Senior Vice President Jiang Zhengxin said the Australian arm will seize the historical opportunity to deepen cooperation with local and Australian operations.

"Also, it will work hard to build the Australian operations company into a strategic pivot for China Unicom's expansion in the information market in the Oceania region, so as to contribute to the construction of the Australia-China Information Silk Road," Jiang said.

Jiang said information and communications technology is crucial in the development business and society.

"Therefore, it has become the engine to drive the growth of the businesses," Jiang said.

Jiang said preparation for China Unicom's Australian operations started in May 2014, as China sees Australia not only as a key trading partner, but also an important economy of the world.