Australia-China Meeting Step Towards Improved Cooperation

MNI (Australia) - To coincide with the 50^th anniversary of Australia-China diplomatic relations, Australian foreign minister Wong met with her Chinese counterpart Wang in China for the first time since 2018. The meeting was requested by the Australian government and marks further steps to ease relations and improve cooperation between the two APAC countries, which has been welcomed by Australian businesses.

• Chinese President Xi reactivated the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in response to the anniversary and the meeting.
• He also said as part of his acknowledgment of the diplomatic anniversary, “I attach great importance to the development of China-Australia relations and I am willing to work with the Australian side”. Australia’s PM Albanese declared “It is for the mutual benefit of both our countries that Australia and China have a stable relationship.”
• In their meeting, Wong asked Wang for the release of two Australian citizens, the easing of restrictions on certain Australian imports and that China respect human rights and global rules.
• The outcome of the meeting appears to have been positive, as China’s Wang stated “We can, and have every reason, to be co-operation partners with each other,” and Australia’s Wong stated that she’d had “a good discussion” and that there is likely to be further talks regarding the trade restrictions.
  - The Australian