@DrStrangelove, one of the first things Abbott did upon becoming PM was to organise a trip to SE Asia / China for hundreds of Australian business leaders [the article below is dated March 3, 2014]:
" China disagreements no barrier to biggest free trade mission, says Tony Abbott " "... Prime Minister Tony Abbott will lead the largest ever Commonwealth-sponsored trade mission to Asia, declaring he would push free trade deals with Japan and China. Mr Abbott and Trade Minister Andrew Robb will visit China, Japan and South Korea in April. The countries represent 40 per cent of Australia's trade in goods and services - valued at $250 billion. The federal ministers will be joined by a business delegation, possibly numbering in the hundreds, and Mr Abbott will also be inviting the premiers and chief ministers and suggesting they invite "key businesses from their states and territories". ..."
