Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is visiting Australia and New Zealand after 7 years on a significant tour aimed at strengthening trade ties between the countries.
Wang’s visit, from March 17 to 21, marked a significant step in improving relations after a period of trade restrictions on Australian goods and escalating security tensions in the region.
As a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, Wang Yi’s visit to both countries signifies the most substantial diplomatic engagement in recent years.
Top Australia, China diplomats meet after nearly seven years
In Canberra, Wang held discussions with his Australian counterpart, Penny Wong, marking the highest-level meeting since 2017.
During the meeting, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong emphasized the need for open discussions on various fronts, including the welfare of Australians detained in China, human rights concerns, maritime security, and regional and global affairs such as developments in the Pacific, Russia’s actions in Ukraine, and conflicts in the Middle East.
Post-meeting, Wong highlighted the commitment to pave the way for a visit by her Chinese counterpart, Li, underscoring the significance of face-to-face diplomacy in fostering mutual understanding.
“I expressed our serious concern about unsafe conduct at sea, our desire for peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in our region,” she said, a reference to friction with China’s navy in the South China Sea.
Wong also raised human rights issues, including the case of Australian writer Yang Hengjun, recently sentenced by a Beijing court, expressing Australian dismay at the decision.
In a symbolic gesture of improving ties, Wong hinted at the likelihood of extending the stay of two pandas, originally loaned from China to Adelaide in 2009, signaling a positive trajectory in bilateral relations.
“We are on a good path there to continued panda presence,” Wong told reporters after the meeting.
Additionally, Wang held a private session with representatives from 11 diverse sectors, including business, academia, and think tanks, reflecting the breadth of perspectives within Australia regarding the bilateral relationship’s future trajectory.
The Australia China Business Council’s national president David Olsson afterwards said the discussion had reflected “a diverse range of views and voices from the Australian side, reflecting the conversations that are taking place in Australia about the future direction of the bilateral relationship”.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets Australian Prime Minister
During his visit to Australia, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi also met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, where discussions centered on fostering common interests and moving beyond differences.
Prime Minister Albanese underscored the importance of not allowing differences to define Australia-China relations, advocating instead for a focus on shared interests.
He reaffirmed this stance during his meeting with Wang Yi, highlighting the positive trajectory of bilateral relations over the past two years and expressing Australia’s commitment to maintaining close high-level exchanges and enhancing cooperation across various domains.
Albanese also reiterated Australia’s longstanding adherence to the One-China policy, underscoring the country’s consistent stance on this fundamental principle.
China’s foreign minister meets New Zealand counterpart
During his visit to New Zealand, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters in Wellington to discuss enhancing bilateral cooperation.
Wang emphasized the stabilizing role of the growing relationship between the two countries, particularly in light of global and regional challenges.
Highlighting the 10th anniversary of the China-New Zealand comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang expressed China’s commitment to deepening ties and creating new opportunities for cooperation in various sectors.
He specifically mentioned advancing the implementation of the upgraded Free Trade Agreement and exploring new avenues for collaboration in areas such as infrastructure, green transformation, digital economy, technological innovation, and climate action.
In response, Peters echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the significance of the bilateral relationship amidst the challenges posed by the global pandemic.
Both sides expressed readiness to deepen trade and economic ties, with a focus on addressing climate change and promoting innovation.
The meeting took place at New Zealand’s parliament house in Wellington, reflecting the importance of the discussions.