Joseph Camilleri played a leading role in the establishment of the Australia-China High Level Talks (ACHLT), and co-chaired the inaugural dialogue in Beijing.

The dialogue, held 40 years after the establishment of the diplomatic relationship between China and Australia, provided a unique opportunity for senior figures in the business, policy-making and academic communities of the two countries to explore in a highly interactive environment current and future trends, likely challenges and possible responses.

The two focal points of the dialogue were:

1. Economic relations over the next five to ten years;

2. The role of cultural industries and intercultural relations in the development of harmonious societies and friendly relations between China and Australia.