Joint Statement on Annual Meeting between Chinese and Australian PMs, Including "Strengthening Cooperation to Combat Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Smuggling"

Regulations by Xinhua News
Jun.18.2024
Joint Statement on Annual Meeting between Chinese and Australian PMs, Including "Strengthening Cooperation to Combat Illicit Tobacco and E-Cigarette Smuggling"
Political dialogue between countries expands to include defense strategy discussions and bilateral ocean affairs talks for the first time.

According to a report by Xinhua News Agency on June 17, at the invitation of Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, paid an official visit to Australia from June 15 to 18, 2024. During the visit to Canberra on June 17, Premier Li Qiang and Prime Minister Albanese held talks, jointly held the annual meeting between Chinese and Australian Prime Ministers, and met with the press together. At the annual meeting, the two leaders exchanged views on Sino-Australian relations and significant international and regional issues.

 

The leaders of the two countries agreed to maintain and expand contact in the following areas:

 

Political dialogue

 

This includes defense strategy discussions, meetings with the Ministry of National Defense, and the first bilateral dialogue on maritime affairs.

 

Bilateral trade

 

This includes both countries' leaders attending the CEO roundtable meeting between Chinese and Australian business leaders in Perth on June 18; welcoming the implementation of the Authorized Economic Operator (AEO) mutual recognition arrangement; promoting the implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP); and signing memorandums of understanding for cooperation in areas such as standards, measurements, intellectual property rights, competition, and food safety.

 

Climate change, energy, and the environment.

 

This includes restarting bilateral climate change and energy dialogues, hosting the eighth China-Australia Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Change in Australia later this year, and initiating technical cooperation on soil carbon monitoring and climate smart agricultural practices.

 

Cultural Exchange

 

This includes expanding cooperation to increase the scale of personnel exchanges between China and Australia, as well as enhancing exchanges in the fields of culture, sports, education, innovation, academia, aviation, health, tourism, and more.

 

Border law enforcement

 

Based on the foundation of bilateral law enforcement cooperation in areas of mutual concern such as drug control and combating transnational organized crime, efforts will be strengthened to collaborate in combating the smuggling of illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes.

 

2FIRSTS noted that, compared to the Joint Statement of the China-Australia Prime Ministers' Annual Meeting released on November 7, 2023, this year's annual meeting has, for the first time in the joint statement, specifically mentioned "border enforcement, and on the basis of bilateral law enforcement cooperation in the fields of drug prohibition and combating transnational organized crime of mutual concern, strengthening cooperation to combat the smuggling of illicit tobacco and e-cigarettes."

 

We welcome news tips, article submissions, interview requests, or comments on this piece.

Please contact us at info@2firsts.com, or reach out to Alan Zhao, CEO of 2Firsts, on LinkedIn


Notice

1.  This article is intended solely for professional research purposes related to industry, technology, and policy. Any references to brands or products are made purely for objective description and do not constitute any form of endorsement, recommendation, or promotion by 2Firsts.

2.  The use of nicotine-containing products — including, but not limited to, cigarettes, e-cigarettes, nicotine pouchand heated tobacco products — carries significant health risks. Users are responsible for complying with all applicable laws and regulations in their respective jurisdictions.

3.  This article is not intended to serve as the basis for any investment decisions or financial advice. 2Firsts assumes no direct or indirect liability for any inaccuracies or errors in the content.

4.  Access to this article is strictly prohibited for individuals below the legal age in their jurisdiction.

 

Copyright

 

This article is either an original work created by 2Firsts or a reproduction from third-party sources with proper attribution. All copyrights and usage rights belong to 2Firsts or the original content provider. Unauthorized reproduction, distribution, or any other form of unauthorized use by any individual or organization is strictly prohibited. Violators will be held legally accountable.

For copyright-related inquiries, please contact: info@2firsts.com

 

AI Assistance Disclaimer

 

This article may have been enhanced using AI tools to improve translation and editorial efficiency. However, due to technical limitations, inaccuracies may occur. Readers are encouraged to refer to the cited sources for the most accurate information.

We welcome any corrections or feedback. Please contact us at: info@2firsts.com

STIIIZY Redesign Fails to Escape PAX Labs Patent Import Ban as Section 337 Case Also Involves China ALD
STIIIZY Redesign Fails to Escape PAX Labs Patent Import Ban as Section 337 Case Also Involves China ALD
U.S. Customs and Border Protection ruled that STIIIZY had not shown that the redesigned cannabis-vape products covered by its latest request fall outside an ITC limited exclusion order tied to PAX Labs patents. CBP accepted some of STIIIZY’s claim-construction and non-infringement arguments, but the company did not address two additional claims in the same patent. Earlier STIIIZY redesigned cartridges and certain associated components imported with them had received separate CBP clearance.
Sep.16
PMI Launches Fourth IQOS Convenience-Store Discount of 2026 for Black Friday in Japan, Cutting ILUMA i ONE to About $19 After Ploom AURA Fell to About $9
PMI Launches Fourth IQOS Convenience-Store Discount of 2026 for Black Friday in Japan, Cutting ILUMA i ONE to About $19 After Ploom AURA Fell to About $9
Philip Morris Japan launched its fourth confirmed nationwide convenience-store discount campaign for IQOS ILUMA i devices in 2026 on October 26, cutting three models by as much as ¥2,000, or about $12.70. The campaign began one day after JT ended a promotion that reduced Ploom AURA to ¥1,480, or about $9.40. JT says Ploom's share of Japan's heated-products category rose from 10.9% in January 2024 to 18.3% in June 2026, a gain of 7.4 percentage points, while PMI says IQOS still held about 68% category share in the third quarter. At the same time, Japan's two-stage heated-tobacco tax adjustment has pushed stick prices higher, leaving device discounts as an increasingly important tool for lowering the upfront cost of customer acquisition.
Market
Oct.28
Product | Juul Labs Launches Upgraded JUUL2 Kit in UK With Four Pods at £9.99 and USB-C Charging
Product | Juul Labs Launches Upgraded JUUL2 Kit in UK With Four Pods at £9.99 and USB-C Charging
Juul Labs UK has introduced an upgraded JUUL2 Starter Kit for the UK market in October 2026, retaining a recommended retail price of £9.99 while doubling the number of included pods from two to four. The kit contains Crisp Menthol, Virginia Tobacco, Mango and Watermelon pods. The updated device replaces the previous proprietary charging dock with a USB-C port and offers longer battery life. The kit also features reduced packaging and retains a two-year limited warranty. Distribution is scheduled through major UK retailers, wholesalers, convenience stores and the JUUL UK website.
product
Oct.15
U.S. Expands Illicit Vape Enforcement as ATF Brings PACT Act Powers Into Trade Fraud Task Force
U.S. Expands Illicit Vape Enforcement as ATF Brings PACT Act Powers Into Trade Fraud Task Force
The U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said on September 23 that it has joined the interagency Trade Fraud Task Force to strengthen enforcement against illegal, misdeclared and smuggled vape and tobacco products. ATF will bring its authority under the Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act into the task force, including registration, reporting, shipping and record-inspection requirements covering interstate sales of electronic nicotine delivery systems. ATF said the move will strengthen its ability to trace illicit products from U.S. points of entry through domestic trafficking and distribution networks.
News
Sep.28 by 2Firsts Perspectives
Beyond IQOS ILUMA, PMI Expands Lower-Priced BONDS Heated Tobacco Platform: Seven Markets Added in Q3, With Rollouts in Japan, Europe and North Africa
Beyond IQOS ILUMA, PMI Expands Lower-Priced BONDS Heated Tobacco Platform: Seven Markets Added in Q3, With Rollouts in Japan, Europe and North Africa
Philip Morris International (PMI) is expanding the international footprint of BONDS by IQOS, its lower-priced heated tobacco platform. The company's third-quarter 2026 SEC filing shows that BONDS devices and BLENDS tobacco sticks were available in 15 markets at the end of September, up from eight at the end of June. In November, PMI announced plans to extend sales from three to 17 Japanese prefectures and introduced BONDS in Spain and Morocco. The platform uses ROUNDHEAT external heating technology and proprietary tobacco sticks, separate from the IQOS ILUMA system. In Japan, BONDS retails for ¥2,980, approximately 25% below ILUMA i ONE, while BLENDS costs ¥570 per pack. PMI management says BONDS targets cigarette smokers who have not adopted heated tobacco. Separate sales and revenue figures remain undisclosed.
company
Nov.06
Snowplus Enters Japan’s FamilyMart Network With Zero-Nicotine NEO Line and Kishidan Campaign
Snowplus Enters Japan’s FamilyMart Network With Zero-Nicotine NEO Line and Kishidan Campaign
Snowplus distributor H&S said the zero-nicotine, zero-tar NEO vaping line will begin rolling out across FamilyMart stores in Japan from September 14, 2026, excluding some locations. The DASH line will also be sold at selected FamilyMart stores in southern Kyushu and Okinawa. Snowplus simultaneously named Japanese rock band Kishidan as a brand ambassador, combining convenience-store distribution with a broader consumer marketing push in Japan.
Sep.15