Australia and China will restart high-level political dialogues and continue implementing bilateral trade after a three-year diplomatic freeze.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Nov. 7 in China, to discuss bilateral ties and regional issues.
The leaders announced the resumption of the Annual Leaders’ Meeting, four years after the last meeting when former Prime Minister Scott Morrison met Mr. Li in Bangkok, Thailand.
The annual dialogue was put on ice by the Chinese communist leadership after Mr. Morrison called for a probe into the origins of COVID-19, to which Beijing retaliated by also imposing trade bans on Australian exports.
While some sanctions, including those on coal, barley, hay have been removed, Mr. Albanese said he pushed for the removal of remaining trade impediments, adding that the “full resumption of free and unimpeded trade” was crucial.
First Visit by Australian PM to China For 7 Years
The Australian PM described the visit as “an important step in stabilising relations with China, our largest trading partner.”“While there are differences between us, both Australia and China benefit from cooperation and dialogue.”