listen windows media >

The dust has begun to settle after a meeting this week between the Foreign Ministers of China and Australia, who raised the issue of Tawain during a meeting in Canberra. It was the first bi-laterial strategic dialogue between Yang Jiechi and Stephen Smith since the Rudd government moved into the Lodge in Canberra. But the talks went beyond Taiwan's decision to hold a referendum on U.N. membership.

Presenter - Jing Jing Qu
Speaker - Dr Michael McKinley, the Australian National University.

listen windows media >

The Chinese Navy is using Australian technology to upgrade its war ships. Through a joint venture company based in China, an Australian business, A-M-D, has sold to Chinese defence forces its designs for the hull and propulsion system of high-speed catamarans. The Chinese military has built vessels based on those designs and then placed weapons systems on top.

Presenter - Leigh Sales
Speaker - Sam Roggeveen, a former senior analyst with one of Australia's key intelligence bodies, the Office of National Assessments

listen windows media >

For over a century, China has had a huge influence on Australia's economic and cultural life, and yet relatively few Australians can speak the main Chinese languages.Now West Australian Premier Alan Carpenter has asked the University of Western Australia to investigate ways of improving the teaching of Mandarin. And the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, himself a Mandarin speaker, has listed Asian languages as a topic for discussion at today's Council of Australian Governments meeting.

Presenter - Scott Bevan
Speaker - Caitlin Furber, Randwick Primary student; Susan Alan, Randwick Primary School Principal, Professor David Holm, the University of Melbourne; Julia Gillard, Australia's deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education.

listen windows media >

Last weekend's election victory by Kevin Rudd gives Australia the first Mandarin-speaking leader in the Western World.

This has left some in the business community wondering if having a former Beijing-based diplomat as the country's leader might lead to greater opportunities for Australian companies to trade with China.

Presenter - Stephen McDonell
Speaker - Edward Smith

listen windows media >

The Chinese government has welcomed the election of the Mandarin-speaking Kevin Rudd as the new Prime Minister of Australia. However, while some are predicting that Australia's economic relationship with China could become even stronger, there may be hints of an early point of tension. If mining resources giant BHP successfully takes over Rio Tinto, it would give BHP enormous power to control the world's iron ore price, a move which would potentially hurt China's steel companies.

Presenter - Stephen McDonnell
Speaker - Chinese government spokesman Qin Gang

listen windows media >

Rio Tinto's chief executive has gone on record saying an unsolicited approach from its main rival BHP Billiton was turned down because it vastly undervalued Rio Tinto's true worth. Rio Tinto is seeking to defend itself against a $400 million merger proposal from BHP. As Rio's share price continues to rise amid speculation of a hostile BHP bid, Rio is hoping to convince its shareholders not to sell, and that the money on the table isn't enough.

Chinese steelmakers want the Australian Government to stop the takeover, saying it would give BHP enormous power to control world iron ore prices, and have called on Prime Minister Kevin Rudd to intervene.

Presenter - Peter Ryan
Speaker - Rio Tinto chief executive Tom Albanese; Stephen Pope of Cantor Fitgerald, Europe office

listen windows media >

World leaders have been on the phone to Kevin Rudd, congratulating him on the ALP's decisive victory in the Australian elections. But how is the change of leadership in Australia being perceived by the region?

Presenter - Sen Lam
Speaker - Richard Woolcott, former head of Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade