We catch up with China Correspondent for the Australian Financial Review, Michael Smith, in Shanghai to look at life as a business correspondent in China, what it’s like sifting through the trends and themes in Chinese media and the challenge of accessing sources for stories.

We also discuss the Australian business presence in China, including the difference between businesses who fly in / fly out and those permanently on the ground in China.

We evaluate the experience of Australian executives in the China market, the importance of MOUs, Joint ventures, the current status of coal exports and how the US-China Trade war could affect Australian economic engagement with the PRC.