We invite you to participate in the 2024 Doing Business in China survey, a collaborative effort by the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce (including its West China and Southern China chapters), the Australia China Business Council (ACBC), AustCham Shanghai, and the University of Melbourne.

This year's survey arrives at a critical juncture in the Australia-China relationship, following significant improvements in bilateral ties. Your insights will be instrumental in shaping the next edition of the  Doing Business in China report, which is widely used by businesses, policymakers, and government officials to guide trade, investment, and regulatory policies.

Why Your Participation Matters:

This year, we are exploring several key hypotheses related to the evolving Australia-China business environment. Your responses will help us validate, challenge, or refine these hypotheses and ensure we develop a clear understanding of the real-world trends and challenges businesses like yours are facing. Some of the critical areas we are seeking to explore include:

• Impact of Improved Bilateral Relations: We hypothesise that the stabilisation of the Australia-China relationship may have opened new pathways for trade, investment, and collaboration. The survey will test this hypothesis by assessing how businesses are experiencing these changes and whether these improvements are having tangible impacts on business operations.

• Investment Opportunities and Risks: Another hypothesis we are exploring is that specific sectors, such as critical minerals, clean energy, healthcare, and technology, may now offer greater opportunities for Australian businesses in China—and likewise, for Chinese investors in Australia. We aim to understand whether these sectors are truly driving growth, as well as to map out the risks that need to be navigated.

• Sustainability and Green Economy: We hypothesise that China's low-carbon transition presents two-way opportunities, both for Australian businesses providing green technologies and Chinese investments into Australia in clean energy and renewable sectors. We want to test how sustainability is shaping bilateral business strategies.

• Operational Challenges: despite new opportunities, businesses may still face regulatory hurdles, supply chain issues, and competitive pressures. We aim to understand how these challenges are being managed in the evolving business environment.

Confidentiality of Responses:

We understand the importance of confidentiality. Please be assured that all responses will be kept strictly confidential, and company-level data will only be accessed by the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce and the University of Melbourne. The results will be aggregated and anonymised in the final report to ensure that no individual company's information is identifiable.

Information You'll Need Includes:

• Information about trends in revenue, profitability, investment, and employee headcount, in your China business.
• Key challenges and opportunities you're facing in the China market.
• Insights on how bilateral relations are affecting your business.
• Risk factors and regulatory hurdles impacting your operations.

What to Expect:

• Time Commitment: Approximately 45 minutes.
• Who Should Complete: Ideally, a senior executive with oversight of your company's China-related activities.
• Flexibility: The survey can be completed in multiple sittings, and open-ended questions are optional. You can also choose "I do not know" if specific information is unavailable.

Benefits of Participating:

• Exclusive Briefing: All respondents will be invited to an exclusive briefing on the report's findings, with opportunities to engage with business leaders.
• Prize Draw: Those who complete the survey will be entered into a draw for special prizes.

The survey is open until 30 January 2025. Your participation will help us test and refine the insights that inform our advocacy on behalf of the Australia-China business community. We greatly appreciate your contribution and look forward to your valuable input.

Thank you for your time and support.

Best regards,

China-Australia Chamber of Commerce