Penny Wong will travel to China this week to make the first ministerial visit since the communist superpower froze diplomatic relations with Australia
This month marks the 50th anniversary of the formation of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
Ties with China were established by former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam in 1972.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of November’s G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia, in a bid to ease tensions with Australia’s largest trading partner.
Foreign Affairs minister Penny Wong will fly over to China this week to open up a dialogue
It was announced on Monday that Ms Wong was scheduled to fly over to China to meet with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi.
The foreign affairs minister is expected to arrive in Beijing on Tuesday.
A statement from the prime minister’s office read: ‘Building on the recent constructive meeting between prime minister Albanese and president Xi in Bali on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, tomorrow foreign minister Penny Wong will travel to Beijing at the invitation of the People’s Republic of China to meet China’s state councilor and minister of foreign affairs, Wang Yi, and hold the 6th Australia–China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue.’
This dialogue was last held between both countries in 2018 when former Liberal foreign affairs minister Marise Payne flew to Beijing.
Mr Albanese gave an uplifting outlook on bilateral relations last week, claiming that Australia should expect a strengthened relationship to emerge.
‘I’m hopeful that any of the barriers to normal economic activity are removed and that we have stronger economic relations,’ he told the Politics with Michelle Grattan podcast.
‘China’s our major economic partner. And I think in coming weeks, you will see further measures and activities which indicate a much improved relationship.’
‘Which is in the interests of both of our countries, but importantly as well, is in the interests of peace and security in the region.’
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with President Xi Jinping on the sidelines of November’s G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia
Relations with the communist superpower reached a boiling point after the Morrison government pushed for a probe into the origins of Covid-19.
Chinese officials released an extraordinary list of 14 grievances that China had with Australia ranging from ‘racist attacks against Asian people’ to siding with the ‘United States’ anti-China campaign’.
The probe was also included in that list along with the Turnbull government’s decision to ban Chinese telco Hauwei.
It resulted in China imposing $20billion in trade sanctions on Australian exports.
Mr Albanese’s meeting with President Xi last month marked the first time in six years an Australian Prime Minister had met with China’s President.
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