Australia's new ambassador to China a key FTA negotiator

CANBERRA - The Australian government announced its new ambassador to China on Thursday, with senior government officer Jan Adams set to replace Frances Adamson in February next year.

Foreign Minister Julie Bishop revealed the change, saying that Adams' expertise in business and trade made her a perfect fit for the position.

Bishop said Adams, who is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), led talks with senior government advisers from China, South Korea and Japan, and was pivotal in gaining support for free trade agreements with all three nations.

"Until recently, Adams was Deputy Secretary with responsibility for trade and economic issues. In this role, and previously as head of DFAT's Free Trade Agreement Division, Ms Adams led the successful FTA negotiations with China, Japan and (South) Korea," Bishop said in a statement on Thursday.

According to Bishop, Adams' experience in dealing with China during the free trade agreement negotiations was the reason she was chosen for the position, and said that Adams would continue to foster the growing relationship between the two nations.

"The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, signed in June this year, will play an important role in diversifying our bilateral trade and investment, and will unlock substantial new benefits for both countries," Bishop said.

"Our people-to-people and cultural links are also strong, supported by recent high growth in tourism and education."

Adams is expected to take up her post in China in February 2016, when outgoing Ambassador Frances Adamson, who held the role from 2011, withdraws from the position.