China has insisted it is “willing to properly resolve differences” with Australia and meet “halfway” following another face-to-face meeting between its foreign ministers.
The Albanese Government worked hard and restarted communications with Beijing after coming into power in May as it tried to mend the fractured relationship.
The partnership between the two nations turned sour more than two years ago and sanctions were slapped against Australian industries when former prime minister Scott Morrison led calls for an inquiry into the origin of COVID-19.
Four months on, Labor’s persistence has appeared to pay off with the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs releasing a positive statement on the meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and her counterpart Wang Yi.
The pair met in New York last week for a second meeting in two months where they discussed a range of topics concerning their countries.
Mr Yi declared China and Australia should become “more mature, stable, resilient and no accident” on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.
“This serves the interests of both sides and is also the expectation of the two peoples,” the release from his department read.
“The Chinese side is willing to conscientiously summarize and sort out experience with the Australian side, properly resolve differences, and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.”
The statement also told how Senator Wong expressed Australia was willing to “develop a stable, mutually beneficial and productive relationship based on mutual respect”.
“She is willing to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity, with a calm and forward-looking attitude, to communicate candidly with the Chinese side, carry out constructive exchanges, and advance the Australia-China comprehensive strategic partnership,” it said.
Beijing then touched on the trade between the countries, which has been hampered by the sanctions, where Mr Yi insisted he is open to building an “open world economy”.
“Wang Yi stressed that China firmly supports trade liberalization and facilitation, and is committed to building a higher-level open economic system and building an open world economy,” the statement continued.
“All parties should carry forward the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, and play the core role of the UN.”
Senator Wong also addressed China during her speech at the UN General Assembly in The Big Apple where she urged the nation to intervene in the Russia/Ukraine war.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a partial military operation, the first since World War II, in a bid to change the course of the seven-month war.
The leader also warned he would use “all means available to us”, including nuclear force, to “protect our people if the integrity of our country is threatened”.
The Foreign Minister stressed the world cannot be passive when “big powers flout the rules” – an obvious swipe at Moscow and President Putin.
“The world does look to China as a great power and as a permanent member of the Security Council, to exercise influence that it has in relation to Russia to end an illegal and immoral war,” Ms Wong said.
“We would continue to urge China to show that leadership.
“It is especially important for countries that play leading roles in international fora, and countries with influence on Russia, to exert their influence to end this war.
“In this, the world looks to China, a great power, a Permanent Member of the Security Council, with a ‘no limits partnership’ with Russia.”