Foreign Minister describes relations between Canberra and Beijing as ‘productive’ yet still requiring improvement
Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized that ‘China will always be China, Australia will always be Australia,’ but the two countries will continue to engage.
Australia and Beijing maintain a “mature and productive relationship,” as stated by Foreign Minister Senator Penny Wong, underscoring the necessity of continuous effort to sustain it.
Following her meeting with high-ranking Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Canberra today, Ms. Wong discussed various matters, including the resumption of the bilateral annual leaders meeting.
“The prime minister is looking forward to hosting Premier Li [Qiang] in Australia,” she confirmed, indicating a potential visit around June.
“I’m pleased with the progress and our ability to keep engaging on important issues such as consular cases, defense, trade, climate and energy cooperation, and promoting mutual understanding and transparency,” she added.
Ms. Wong also spoke about Australian citizen Yang Hengjun, who received a suspended death sentence in a Beijing court earlier this year.
“I conveyed the shock felt by Australians regarding the imposed sentence, and assured him that the Australian government will continue to advocate for Dr. Yang,” Senator Wong expressed.
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“I also shared our concerns regarding other Australian citizens facing death penalty cases.
“I won’t disclose all details publicly, but I assure you, we will persist in our advocacy [for him].”
Other contentious matters discussed in the bilateral meeting included human rights issues and the CCP’s claim over the South China Sea.
“I raised Australia’s concerns about human rights violations in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong,” Senator Wong mentioned.
“I expressed our apprehension about unsafe behaviors at sea, our pursuit of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and the region, as reiterated at the recent ASEAN Summit, and the importance of abiding by international law in the South China Sea.”
Vague Meeting Details
The Senator refrained from divulging Mr. Wang’s response to these topics.
“Undoubtedly, these discussions highlight significant differences,” she acknowledged, adding, “Dialogues help us manage these divergences effectively, albeit not eliminating them, yet this government will always strive to handle these disparities prudently for Australia’s benefit.”
When questioned by a Chinese TV reporter about the perceived “trust issue” on Australia’s part towards China, Ms. Wong reiterated the government’s commitment to fostering a “productive and mature relationship with China … in line with Prime Minister [Anthony] Albanese and Premier Li’s stance.”
“It’s crucial to acknowledge the considerable progress we have made swiftly. We have resumed foreign and strategic dialogues and annual leaders meetings.
“China will remain China, Australia will remain Australia. Nevertheless, our objective is to sustain engagement, collaborate where feasible, disagree when necessary, and competently navigate these discrepancies.
The two nations have resumed discussions on trade, economy, defense, climate, initiated technical collaborations on climate-related matters, and united in combating narcotics trafficking and transnational crime, she disclosed.
Ms. Wong also confirmed that South Australia will retain its two giant pandas.
“Further arrangements are in progress, but we are optimistic about maintaining the panda presence,” she remarked.
In a released statement post-meeting, Mr. Wang highlighted the highly complementary nature and immense potential of the economies of China and Australia.
He stressed the importance of staying on the right track in bilateral relations, urging a continued commitment to Beijing’s sovereignty, dignity, and concerns from Australia.
