Australia gets its most senior Chinese leadership visit since 2017 as relations thaw further
Australia has received its most senior Chinese leadership visit in nearly seven years with stability a key theme of the discussions between the countries’ foreign ministers
SYDNEY (AP) — Australia received its most senior Chinese leadership visit in nearly seven years Wednesday with stability a key theme of the discussions between the countries’ foreign ministers.
China's Wang Yi met with his counterpart Penny Wong in Canberra on his tour of Australia and New Zealand. It was the highest level meeting in Australia between the nations since 2017 and comes as relations continue to thaw after a tumultuous period under Australia's former government in which trade measures were imposed on a raft of Australian products and security tensions were escalating around the region.
“A stable relationship between Australia and China doesn’t just happen, it needs ongoing work,” Wong said at a news conference after the meeting. “And this was the latest meeting in that process.”
Wong acknowledged important differences remained between the countries, but work to uphold their common interests would continue. “Australia will always be Australia and China will always be China. However, we will cooperate where we can but disagree where we must and to manage these differences wisely," she said.
