Australian cattle farmers seek Chinese investment

SYDNEY - Aboriginal landowners in northern Australia are working with a Chinese company in an effort to attract investors and boost their cattle industry, local media reported on Friday.

Ten of Australia's largest Aboriginal cattle stations are joining forces in the hope of winning Chinese investment and creating jobs, the ABC reported.

Australian state woos Chinese investors

"We do have a vision and it's the same vision of running a profitable cattle station and we just need that support towards getting it to that stage," said Anthony Watson, a senior Aboriginal elder.

The Aboriginal Pastoral Co-op is working close with Chinese consortium ASF Group to attract foreign investment.

ASF Group's chair and director Min Yang said Chinese investors know about the area and will be attracted to the opportunities it offered.

"I think it is not very hard to achieve because firstly this area is already very famous in China," she said.

"Because of the movie 'Australia,' you know. Every time I tell them, that's the area, you know there are already a lot of cattle there and so they sort of feel very familiar.

"The other thing, which is mostly important, is this location is close to China."