The new company, named CQC-SAI Management Technologies (Beijing) Co Ltd, is jointly sponsored by the China Quality Certification Centre (CQC) and SAI Global Ltd of Australia.

The joint venture's businesses range from production certification services to training awareness solutions, including quality management, market and social research, legislative compliance and human resources training.

Ambassador of Australia in China Alan Thomas said at the opening ceremony that with CQC-SAI Management Technologies operating in China, people should have greater confidence in the quality of many of the goods and services originating from China.

"It reinforces the message we have been delivering to Chinese decision-makers in relation to our ongoing free trade agreement negotiations - that China can benefit from giving improved access to Australian service providers," he added.

Wang Fengqing, chairperson of the China Certification and Accreditation Association, said China and Australia enjoyed a healthy, long-standing trade relationship. China is Australia's second biggest trade partner while Australia ranks ninth for China.

Bilateral trade between the two countries hit 27.25 billion US dollars in 2005, and the figure reached 11.74 billion US dollars in the January-May period of 2006, up 17.4 percent over the same period last year.

CQC is a recognized, government-approved body focused on China Compulsory Certification (CCC).

Experts said the newly established company is the first cooperation between the two countries' leading certification institutions and a milestone in the internationalization of China's certification services.

(For more biz stories, please visit Industry Updates)