MELBOURNE, 23 December 2022: Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong met China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on 21 December 2022 for the 6th Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue in Beijing, while on a one day visit to mark Australia’s 50 years diplomatic relations with China. In a Tweet she said, “The meeting is another step forward as we stabilise the relationship between our two countries.”
She addressed the media and also answered a few questions in China saying it was a ‘constructive meeting’ and it is our intention our relations be ‘stabilised’ with China. She said ‘dialogue and engagement’ was the way and we will ‘navigate the differences wisely.’
Answering to media questions Penny Wong said the issues discussed included ‘further dialogue’ and we are seeking ‘ more structured dialogue.’ For Australia human rights are universal’, she said.
‘I raised several issues of importance to Australia, including consular matters, trade blockages, human rights and regional security,’ she said.
According to Global Times, China and Australia agreed to commerce or restart dialogue in six areas. The six areas include bilateral relations, trade and economic issues, consular affairs, climate change, defense, as well as regional and international issues.
‘Pragmatic cooperation is the only way to meet the interests of both sides and even boost global economic development,’ the Global Times says.
It further says, ” With the current Labor Party government showing a willingness to change the country’s China policy, bilateral relations are now at a new development threshold, which have the objective conditions and reasons for recalibration and setting sail again.”
Video source – DFAT
