Australia’s ‘Progressive’ State Goes Solo, Joins China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Victoria signed up to the initiative in hopes the deal will boost jobs and trade

A general view of high-rise and apartment buildings in the Docklands in Melbourne, Australia, on June 16, 2017. Victoria has become the first and state in Australia to support China's Belt and Road Initiative, also known as One Belt One Road, after having signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Oct. 25, 2018. Scott Barbour/Getty Images

UPDATE: The Andrews government released the MoU document to the public late Nov. 11 after pressure from Australia’s Prime Minister and other politicians (pdf).

Victoria’s government has signed up to China’s flagship economic investment project, the Belt and Road initiative, in hopes that the deal will foster more trade and jobs in the state.