SYDNEY: In a significant move to mend strained ties, Australia has announced plans to dispatch a diverse delegation comprising representatives from industry, government, academia, media, and the arts to engage in crucial dialogue with their Chinese counterparts in Beijing next week. The aim of this diplomatic effort, as stated by Canberra’s foreign ministry, is to stabilize and strengthen the relationship between the two nations.
The forthcoming talks, scheduled for next Thursday, will encompass a wide range of topics, including trade, investment, people-to-people connections, regional and international security, among others, according to a statement from Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s office. This marks the revival of a high-level dialogue that had been conducted annually since 2014 but was suspended in 2020.
In her statement, Minister Wong emphasized that these talks represent “another step towards increasing bilateral engagement and stabilizing our relationship with China,” underlining Australia’s commitment to fostering constructive dialogue.
Australia and China Aim to Stabilize Relations
Heading the Australian delegation will be former trade minister Craig Emerson, who will be joined by former foreign affairs minister Julie Bishop. Emerson remarked, “Since it was established, the dialogue has been an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding with Chinese participants and to find common ground.”
On the Chinese side, the delegation will be led by Li Zhaoxing, China’s former foreign affairs minister, reflecting China’s commitment to addressing the concerns and challenges in the bilateral relationship.
This renewed dialogue serves as the latest development in a gradual thawing of relations between Beijing and Canberra after a period of heightened tension. Australia’s actions, such as enacting legislation against overseas influence operations, barring Huawei from 5G contracts, and advocating for an independent investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic, had strained ties with China.
However, relations have shown signs of improvement since the center-left government in Canberra adopted a more conciliatory approach towards China following its election last year. The upcoming talks provide an opportunity for both nations to engage in open and constructive discussions, with the hope of finding common ground and stabilizing their complex relationship.
