October 2018, Andrews announced Victoria was signing up to Chinese President Xi Jinping’s signature foreign policy, the Belt and Road Initiative.
He announced a “framework agreement” in 2019 and set up a working group to be co-chaired by himself and the head of China’s economic planning agency, the National Development and Reform Commission.
In December 2020, the Morrison government stepped in and ripped up the Victorian deal. Then-foreign minister Marise Payne said that it was important the Commonwealth had the power to veto deals between states and foreign entities that “are not consistent with Australia’s foreign policy”.
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During his time as leader, Andrews visited China seven times. The last trip was the most contentious. It took place in March 2023, just weeks after Australia signed the AUKUS pact with the US and the UK that solidified defence ties between the three countries and was not popular in Beijing.
It was an important trip as he was the first leader of an Australian government to visit China since the pandemic.
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...the photograph of Andrews with the Chinese president will be likely to open doors for him in China for years to come. It took all of 10 seconds for Andrews to stride down the red carpet as part of a conga line of visiting world leaders before shaking hands with both Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan. But it will deliver a lifetime of cache for Andrews and his consulting firm
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Andrews set up corporate entities (Wedgetail Partners and Glencairn Street Pty Ltd) last year with his former multicultural affairs adviser Zheng (Marty) Mei. They have also registered another consultancy called Forty Eight & Partners, which is working closely with Fortescue.
Andrews, Forrest and Lindsay Fox are regular attendees at the Boao Forum. Held on the southern island of Hainan, Boao is China’s answer to the World Economic Forum and a rare chance to meet with the Chinese elite.