International Minister Penny Wong has met Chinese language counterpart Wang Yi throughout a go to to Beijing, ending a four-year diplomatic deep freeze.
The pair mentioned commerce sanctions imposed on Australia by China in addition to the destiny of two detained Australians.
Senator Wong instructed reporters following the bilateral assembly the pair had agreed to additional discussions.
“We have continued to place the view that we’re capable of develop our bilateral relationship and uphold our respective nationwide pursuits if we navigate our variations properly, and that’s the problem for this technology,” she mentioned.
“I did set out our positions on points which I do know are so essential to Australians and are essential to the federal government – related consular issues, commerce blockages, human rights, in addition to regional safety, worldwide safety and the norms and international guidelines which underpin our prosperity.”
Senator Wong mentioned commerce sanctions positioned on Australian items had been raised throughout discussions, saying it was to the advantage of each international locations for the “blockages” to be eliminated.
“There was a dialogue about alternatives for additional dialogue to work by how we would do what I feel is in the very best curiosity of each international locations and customers in each international locations,” she mentioned.
“We now have agreed to keep up high-level engagement and we have agreed to additional dialogue in a spread of these areas.”
The Australian International Minister mentioned she additionally advocated for consular entry for detained Australians in China, together with journalist Cheng Lei and writer Yang Hengjun.
“We advocated for a spread of issues in these discussions. They embody for these Australians to be reunited with their households as quickly as attainable,” she mentioned.
The go to coincided with the 50th anniversary of Sino-Australian diplomatic relations.
China’s international ministry mentioned Mr Wang instructed Senator Wong China and Australia had no basic conflicts of curiosity and will use the anniversary to reorganize and restart relations.
“We’re able to work with you to implement the details of settlement between our leaders, to make use of the 50th anniversary as an essential alternative to resume our unique aspirations,” Mr Wang mentioned.
“Prior to now few years, our relationship has encountered difficulties and setbacks. That is what we don’t need to see. The teachings should be discovered.”
Mr Wang mentioned the 2 international locations had extremely complementary financial buildings.
“China and Australia haven’t any historic grievances and no basic conflicts of curiosity, and will and may turn into companions in mutual want,” he mentioned.
Senator Wong mentioned the 2 international locations wanted to handle their variations.
“We now have completely different views about how our political system ought to function and we’ve got completely different pursuits however we have to search to handle these variations,” she mentioned.
Their assembly adopted a message from China’s President Xi Jinping earlier within the day to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese promising China would work to advertise a complete strategic partnership, state media reported.
Mr Albanese thanked President Xi for a telegram commemorating the 50th anniversary of ties.
“It is vital that we ship higher relations with our main buying and selling accomplice sooner or later,” he instructed a information convention in Sydney.
Earlier, Senator Wong met with Australia’s ambassador to China, Graham Fletcher, at Beijing’s Diaoyutai state guesthouse.
“The ice thaws however slowly,” she mentioned because the pair walked across the compound’s gardens, the temperature a brisk -6 levels Celsius.
Senator Wong traveled to Beijing with a small Australian contingent together with Division of International Affairs and Commerce secretary Jan Adams and half a dozen different officers.
She and Mr Fletcher made it clear Australia needed a return to holding annual leaders’ conferences between Australia and China, in addition to annual talks between the treasurer, commerce minister and their Chinese language counterparts.
Senator Wong thanked the ambassador and embassy employees for his or her arduous work.
“It has been a troublesome interval within the relationship and a troublesome interval due to all of the COVID lockdowns,” she mentioned.
– with Reuters
