In this paper we elaborate on a proposal for the establishment of an Australia–China Commission (‘the Commission’) — or the Aodaliya–Zhongguo Weiyuanhui (in Chinese) or, in short, the Ao–Zhong Commission — recommended in the Australia–China Joint Economic Report, for which we were jointly responsible. We suggest that, given the unique nature of the relationship between Australia and China, this initiative would provide important infrastructure in husbanding and developing the relationship between Australia and China over the years ahead.