Ambassador to China

Today I announce the appointment of Ms Jan Adams PSM as Australia's next Ambassador to China.

Australia has an extensive and growing relationship with China based on strong economic ties and collaboration on many common interests.

China is Australia's largest trading partner, with annual two-way trade in 2014 totalling over $150 billion.

The China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA), signed in June this year, will play an important role in diversifying our bilateral trade and investment, and will unlock substantial new benefits for both countries.

Our people-to-people and cultural links are also strong, supported by recent high growth in tourism and education.

Ms Adams is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Until recently she was Deputy Secretary with responsibility for trade and economic issues. In this role, and previously as head of DFAT's Free Trade Agreement Division, Ms Adams led the successful FTA negotiations with China, Japan and Korea.

Ms Adams previously served as Australia's Ambassador for Climate Change and Ambassador for the Environment, as the head of the Asia Pacific Economic-Cooperation Branch, and as Senior Adviser in the Office of the Minister for Trade. Overseas, Ms Adams has served as Minister-Counsellor in the Australian Embassy in Washington and also worked for the OECD Secretariat in Paris.

Ms Adams holds a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) and Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from Monash University. She was awarded a Public Service medal in 2007 for public service in pursuit of Australia's international objectives on trade negotiations and environment policy.

Ms Adams is expected to take up her appointment in February 2016. I thank outgoing Ambassador Frances Adamson for her significant contribution in advancing Australia's interests in China since 2011.