China Unicom Senior Vice President Jiang Zhengxin addresses the launch ceremony of China Unicom's operations in Sydney, Australia, on July 3. (Photo : www.english.cri.cn)
Global telecommunications giant China Unicom has officially started operations in Australia on July 3, Friday, paving the way for the establishment of the Australia-China "information silk road" and further enhancing bilateral relationship, the Xinhua News Agency reported.
In the past, telecommunications between China and Australia were not active since communications have to travel via the United States despite the high bilateral trade volume between the two countries.
But between from 2013 to 2014, services trade volume between China and Australia reached $7.21 billion.
Deputy Consul General of the Consulate-General of the People's Republic of China in Sydney, Tang Ying, said that the trade volume expected to further increase 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.
China Unicom is a global provider of telecommunications services to governments and peoples with an international network that covers 100 countries and regions with both land and submarine telecommunications cables.
China Unicom Senior Vice President Jiang Zhengxin said that the company's Australian arm will take advantage of the opportunity to enhance 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 was quoted as saying.
Jiang added that 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 that the preparation for China Unicom's Australian operations started in May 2014, as China sees Australia not only as an important economy of the world but also a key trading partner in that part of the world.
