As the latest effort to promote Australia's education export to China, Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb is expected to participate in a series of education activities during his visit to China this week.

Robb will attend the opening of a joint graduate school and a joint research institute by Monash University and Southeast University in Suzhou China, a press release by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said Tuesday. "This is a very significant moment as Monash University is the first Australian university to be granted a licence to operate a graduate school in China," Robb said. "This is a testament to the strong and growing links between our two countries underpinned by education."

China is Australia's largest source of international student enrollments, contributing around 4 billion AU dollars (3.88 billion U.S. dollars) annually to the Australian economy.

The two countries have enjoyed a history of 40 years of education exchanges, which plays a vital role in deepening the connections between the two countries. "Education is one of Australia's key strengths and it offers enormous opportunity at so many levels from trade and investment through to the building of people-to-people linkages. Australia is extremely well placed to help meet growing demand in Asia for quality education," Robb said.

In Suzhou, Robb will also visit the Chinese facilities of Michell Wool, one of Australia's largest wool exporters while in Shanghai, he will discuss ways to strengthen the Australia- Shanghai trade and investment relationship.

Robb will meet senior executives from major companies and participate in an agri-business investment forum with Victorian Premier Denis Napthine.

He will also meet members of the Australian business community in Shanghai to talk about the potential and future direction of Australia's trade and investment relationship with China.

The DFAT release said Robb will also make a brief visit to China's Hong Kong where he will meet investors and Australia- linked business leaders.