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GUANGZHOU, China, Dec. 6-- The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative can dovetail with Australia's strategy to develop its northern region in a way which benefits both countries, a former Australian trade minister said here Wednesday. "The Belt and Road Initiative has played a significant role in helping Australia to develop her northern region," Andrew Bobb said in an interview with Chinese reporters on the sidelines of the 2017 Fortune Global Forum. Citing a trade deal sealed in 2017 on China's importation of live cattle from Australia as an example, Bobb noted that the agreement has brought a business boom to the farming sector in Australia. In particular, while meeting the demands of the Chinese market for high-quality beef, the deal has generated revenue for Australian live cattle exporters, most of whom come from the northern Australian region, he added. The Belt and Road Initiative, put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, seeks to build a trade, investment and infrastructure network connecting Asia with Europe and Africa along and beyond the ancient Silk Road trade routes. During Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Australia in March, the two sides agreed to synergize the Belt and Road Initiative with Canberra's Vision for developing North Australia. So far, dozens of countries and international organizations have signed cooperation agreements with China within the framework of this initiative, which is aimed at promoting win-win cooperation, people-to-people exchange and common development. | 
