Group of attendees at the inaugural Australia-China Policy Dialogue on Steel Decarbonisation

From our department, dialogue co-chairs Marie Illman (Head of Minerals and Resources Division), Tara Oliver (Head of Heavy Industry & Local Manufacturing Division), and Alison Drury (Acting Head of International Strategy and National Security Division), with MIIT dialogue co-chair Chang Guowu (Director General of the Department of Raw Materials Industry, MIIT), Wang Hongliu (Counsellor, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Australia) and Wen Gang (Director, Department of Raw Materials Industry, MIIT).

Our department hosted the first Australia-China Policy Dialogue on Steel Decarbonisation on 2 November 2026. 

Senior officials from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) co-chaired the dialogue. Representatives from relevant government agencies of both countries attended. We also held a roundtable for industry and research institutions. 

The dialogue reaffirmed the importance of steel decarbonisation to the industrial development of both countries and global emissions reduction.

Participants exchanged views on:

  • ironmaking and steelmaking technologies
  • evolving raw-material and product requirements
  • future lower-emissions markets. 

They also recognised the importance of reliable, sustainable, open, fair and orderly competition for iron and steel supply chains.

Both sides agreed to further exchanges to advance cooperation on:

  • iron ore use and processing
  • lower-emissions iron and steel technologies
  • future product requirements 
  • standards
  • emissions accounting. 

They will pursue practical areas of cooperation and develop a focused work program ahead of the next dialogue.

China will host the next dialogue.