SHANGHAI – Australia will trial new visa rules for visitors and students from China, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said on Thursday, as the country seeks to boost tourism and education amid an economy struggling with the demise of a once-in-a-lifetime mining boom.

Government data released in January showed a record 1 million Chinese tourists flocked to Australia in the past 12 months, up from a mere 100,000 fifteen years ago. Beaten in absolute numbers only by New Zealand, China is the fastest growing group with a total spending of A$7.7 billion (S$8.1 billion) last year. “China is Australia’s most valuable tourism market. More than a million Chinese visited Australia last year (and) contributed A$8.3 billion to our economy,” Turnbull said in Shanghai at the start of a trip to China.

Australia will make it easier for Chinese tourists to visit, trialing visa applications in a language other than English, in Chinese, online visa applications from China for the first time and trialing 10-year validity visas, he added.

Eight student visa categories will also be reduced to two, Turnbull said. “This shows the commitment of Australia to strengthen this vitally important tourism relationship. And of course it’s a very important part of our economic story, but it is also a key element in bringing our two countries and our two peoples closer together,” he added. “The more Chinese come to Australia, Australians go to China the closer we become together, the better we understand each other, the more opportunities for further engagement at every level – social, academic, economic, commercial.” Australia has launched a new A$40 million global tourism campaign to help fill the economic hole left by the commodities downturn, targeting a growing group of Chinese holidaymakers who favour independent itineraries over traditional large group packages.

The campaign is geared towards a new breed of young and independent traveller from China drawn to Australia’s natural beauty.

Tourism Research Australia forecasts Chinese spending to double to A$13.7 billion by 2024-25.

Australia’s A$1.6 trillion economy is struggling with sub-par growth.

Driven by Chinese arrivals, tourism is among the fastest growing sectors, employing half a million people. The government forecasts the industry to rake in A$113 billion by June 2016, with foreign tourists accounting for one third.

SHANGHAI – Infant milk formula imports to China through international websites will need official approval by 2018, the finance ministry said, a reprieve for firms who were concerned the rules would have immediate effect.

China raised tariffs on online retail imports last Friday, but also published a “positive list” which tightened restrictions on some products including milk powder being imported through cross-border websites.

The move sparked share price gyrations by firms in close trade partners like Australia as companies and investors scrambled to understand the impact.

China’s cross-border e-commerce market has lured in domestic shoppers with lower tax rates than conventional imports and less red tape.

The finance ministry said in a statement late on Wednesday that infant milk formula imported through online channels would”temporarily” not need to obtain registration documents. The new requirements would come into effect from Jan. 1, 2018.

China’s cross-border retail sales refers to goods either shipped directly to shoppers from overseas or from bonded warehouses in free-trade zones within China. The market is set to hit 432 billion yuan (S$90.6 billion) this year, from 259 billion yuan in 2015, according to McKinsey & Co.

Cosmetics imported through the same channel would need to obtain a permit, the finance ministry statement said. China had already approved 136,000 cosmetics, covering the “vast majority”of international brands.

SEOUL – North Korea has deployed one or two intermediate-range ballistic missiles on the east coast, possibly preparing for launch on or around Friday, the anniversary of the birth of the country’s founder, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported.

A mobile launcher was spotted carrying up to two Musudan missiles, Yonhap said on Thursday, citing multiple South Korean government sources, following the North’s fourth nuclear test in January and a long-range rocket launch the next month, which led to fresh UN sanctions.

The Musudan missile, with a design range of more than 3,000 km (1,800 miles), is not known to have been flight-tested, according to South Korean defence ministry and experts.

Some experts said the North may choose to test-fire the Musudan in the near future as it tries to build an intercontinental ballistic missile designed to put the mainland United States within range.

US intelligence believes North Korea’s ability to reach the United States is low, but its capabilities will increase, making continued investment in missile defence essential. .

South Korea’s Defence Ministry spokesman, Moon Sang-gyun, declined to confirm the Yonhap report but said the military had been on high alert for any missile launch by the North since its leader Kim Jong Un’s vow to conduct more tests.

Kim said in March his country would soon test a nuclear warhead and ballistic missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads.

North Korea, which regularly threatens to destroy the South and the United States, often fires missiles during periods of tension in the region or when it comes under pressure to curb its defiance and abandon its weapons programmes.

South Korean experts have said the North may choose to display a show of force ahead of a major ruling party congress in May where it is expected to declare itself a nuclear power or around the April 15 anniversary of the birth of Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung.

Isolated North Korea and the rich, democratic South are still technically at war after the 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a peace treaty.

North Korea accused South Korea on Tuesday of abducting its citizens in China, four days after South Korea said 13 workers at a restaurant run by the North had defected.