Beijing Foreign Minister’s Visit to Australia, News Updates: March 20

Beijing Foreign Minister’s Recent Visit to Australia: News Updates from March 20th

March 19, 2024 TruthUSA

Stay informed with our live updates on the Chinese Communist Party’s diplomatic representative’s visit to Australia.

Here are the latest updates on the CCP representative’s visit:

______

Protestors Gather in Front of Parliament House

Representatives of the Falun Gong, Tibetan, and Uyghur communities gather in front of the nation’s Parliament to protest Mr. Wang’s visit.

“We hope that our government’s focus on repairing Australia’s trade relationship with China will not overshadow the importance of raising China’s human rights atrocities,” said Lucy Zhao, president of the Falun Dafa Association of Australia.

______

Wang Meets With Wong

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong delivers opening remarks before the closed-door meeting.

“I also welcome progress on trade between our countries, including exports and look forward to the resolution of outstanding issues,” Senator Wong told media.

“Predictability in business and trade is in all of our interests. You and I also agreed on the importance of dialogue between our two countries, not just to take forward our shared interest but also to exchange views on the issues that matter to us and navigate wisely any issues we have.”

Beijing Shamed into Dropping Tariffs: Opposition

Australia’s Shadow Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Simon Birmingham, in a press conference this morning, said Beijing was effectively pressured into dropping its trade sanctions against Australia.

“We need to be very clear here that China has been acting in breach of its obligations under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement and to the World Trade Organisation through the imposition of the trade sanctions against Australia,” he told reporters this morning.

“And China’s decisions to lift those tariffs on barley and seemingly now on wine have come following Australia, prosecuting that case through the independent umpire of the WTO and China being handed the draft findings and intended findings of that independent umpire.

“So, it’s no surprise that under threat of being called out for breaching its commitments to the world, China is removing those tariffs. But it is very welcome that they do so, and they should do so forthwith,” he added, in reference to the wine tariffs that are said to be worth $1 billion to Australia’s economy.

______