By Matt Goss
MELBOURNE, Dec. 8. (Xinhua) -- Despite of the rise of protectionism, globalization is an irreversible trend, experts said at the Boao Forum for Asia in Melbourne on Thursday.
Speaking at the conference, Zhang Dawei, Vice Chairman and Secretary-General of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges (CCIEE), said though globalization faced many challenges worldwide it would continue.
Zhang said the benefits of free trade could be displayed simply in the relationship between China and Australia.
He said that since China and Australia signed a free trade agreement (FTA) both countries have thrived from a growth in two-way trade of 16 billion U.S. dollars.
Australia's dairy and health supplement industries have thrived from the two nations' strong relationship, with both exhibiting a 70 percent growth in exports to China since the agreement was put in place, Zhang said.
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