Following a meeting between the foreign ministers of the two countries in New York, China said that there were “good signs” that its tumultuous relationship with Australia was returning to “the correct track.”
After speaking with Australia’s Penny Wong outside of a UN meeting, Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi only had positive things to say in what seems to be a burgeoning diplomatic thaw.
According to a statement from China’s foreign ministry, “The Chinese side stands ready to cooperate with the Australian side to genuinely take stock of experience, correctly handle disputes, and drive the sound and steady development of bilateral ties.”
“The two sides should reach out to one another, maintain a more optimistic outlook, put out more encouraging messages, and share more examples of win-win collaboration.”
“We should act in a spirit of mutual respect to quickly put bilateral ties back on the right track.”
Following the previous Morrison government’s request for a more thorough examination into the provenance of Covid, significant “unmanageable disparities” between China and Australia surfaced.
When Australia decided to purchase nuclear-powered submarines as part of the AUKUS defense agreement with the US and UK, trade conflicts broke out, and Australia spoke out against China’s claim on disputed South Sea islands. Beijing also voiced dissatisfaction at Australia’s choice.
Ms. Wong expressed optimism that the current state of tense ties may be changing, with economic openness being restored.
I believe there are numerous measures that both sides will need to do in order to reach a more solid partnership, she stated.
“In terms of areas of disagreement, the subject of trade barriers is certainly foremost among them, and that is the area of disagreement I first focused on.”
China also reaffirmed its commitment to “creating an open global economy” and “trade liberalization and facilitation.”
Ms. Wong pleaded on China, which is often seen as Russia’s friend, to use its influence as a veto-wielding member of the UN Security Council to stop Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
She said, “China is a major power.”
“We ask China to utilize its influence to stop the conflict as a P5 member with a specific obligation to respect the UN charter.”
The Australian journalists Cheng Lei and Yang Hengjun, who are now being held in China on suspicion of espionage and have been barred from having any family contact, were also brought up, according to Ms. Wong.
The Albanese ministry has emphasized strengthening ties with China a key distinction between itself and the previous Coalition administration.
It seems to be working, as China’s envoy to Australia, Xiao Qian, said earlier this month that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jipang should meet.
For nations like China and Australia, maintaining contact at all levels, including the highest ones, is crucial, he added.
I’ve been attempting to exchange notes with our Australian colleagues at DFAT to see how we can proceed in order to establish a setting that’d be favorable for a potential top-level meeting.
The meeting between Ms. Wong and Mr. Wang took place on the 50th anniversary of the establishing of diplomatic ties between Australia and the Chinese communist government in 1972 by the Whitlam Labor administration.
For many years after their takeover in 1949, several western nations refused to recognize the Chinese Communist Party’s authority.