Australia is seeking Chinese investment to develop farming land in its sprawling north in a joint bid to boost food security for the Asian giant's 1.3 billion citizens, The two nations were due to publish a study into the proposal, which would see Chinese companies invest directly in northern farms focused mainly on beef, sheep, sugar and dairy. Canberra and Beijing launched the study last May and its findings were due to be released within weeks, according to the newspaper.Australian Trade Minister Craig Emerson stressed that it would not involve "selling up" valuable national resources, nor "importing overseas labour and dedicating the production to Chinese consumption".
"It is designed to lift Australian food production for world markets," Emerson said from Beijing.
China eye for Australian Food Industry
