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Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews has branded his controversial trip to China "very successful" in his first public appearance since returning from the communist nation.
Andrews detailed key outcomes from the trip, including the establishment of a new working group between Victoria's Department of Jobs and the Chinese Ministry of Education, in a bid attract more Chinese students to Melbourne.
He said arrangements had been made for new Chinese students to come to Australia to study and also for Victorian students to spend time in China.
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"Our relationship with China is deeper than just trade – it's a partnership built on respect, trust and friendship, and one that benefits all Victorians in every sector," Andrews said.
"Our offering is second-to-none, and after a one in one hundred year event pandemic event it's very important that we get out there and let people know that we're open."
Andrews said China was "not the only" relationship, but it is a significant one for the state.
"Those linkages, those connections, are very important for all the different relationships we have and China is one of those," he said.
"It's not the only one, but it's a very significant and in fact the biggest across two-way trade."
Andrews said he met with mayor of Beijing and "talked about a whole range of different issues".
"We talked about different opportunities there, we may be able to see more and more Victorian businesses exporting goods, exporting services" he said.
"Working together on a number of common challenges for instance climate change."
Facing criticism over the "secretive" nature of the trip, Andrews was asked why there was no media invited on his travels to which he replied: "I've travelled to China before without media."
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Asked on how Australia was viewed in the eyes of Chinese people, he said we are "very highly regarded".
"Our conversations were very much about the Victoria-China relationship and didn't really stray beyond that," he said.
"Australia is very highly regarded by Chinese consumer.
"When it comes to Victoria, Victoria is very highly valued by parents and families when they send their children to study overseas."
Andrew comments on Labor victory in Aston
Straying off topic from the trip, Andrews also commented on the Labor Party's historic win in the by-election in the seat of Aston overnight.
He branded members of the Liberal Party "nasty" and "bigoted".
"The Liberal party are a nasty, bigoted outfit and people have worked them out," he said.
"That might be why they keep losing."
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The premier said he was left shocked after viewing an interview with Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton this morning.
"I saw Mr Dutton this morning, give an interview and frankly, some of the most extraordinary commentary I've heard for a long time," he said.
"This notion that families in the suburbs are up in arms about trans issues.
"They don't want people focused on the persecution of trans people, they want people focused on the cost of living."
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