Australian and Chinese trade ministers held their first bilateral meeting in three years on Monday as Australia urged China to remove official and unofficial barriers that cost exporters 20 billion Australian dollars ($14 billion) a year.
China has imposed its diplomatic embargo on Australia since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s centre-left Labor Party was elected for the first time in nine years in May.
Albanese has urged China to show goodwill to his administration by lifting trade restrictions on Australian exports including wine, coal, beef, seafood, barley and timber.
Trade Minister Don Farrell said that behind closed doors, he and his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao had agreed to step up dialogue at all levels as a path toward a timely and full resumption of trade.
“Our discussions covered a range of trade and investment issues, including the need to resume uninterrupted trade for Australian exporters, so that Chinese consumers can continue to enjoy the benefits,” Farrell said in a statement after the teleconference meeting from Australia’s parliament. continue to benefit from high quality Australian products.” Home.
During the introductory phase of the meeting open to the media, Wang invited Farrell to meet him in China.
Wang told Farrell, “I look forward to an open and frank exchange of views with you.” “I also have great pleasure in extending an invitation to you to visit China at a time convenient for you. And I am sure that your next visit to China will leave a distinct impression on you.”
Pharrell accepted the invitation, but did not set a date.
“The outcome of our discussions are expected to be of great benefit to both our countries and both our consumers,” Farrell said.
Wang said the priority of the meeting should be building mutual trust.
Wang said, “I want to emphasize that we will face the issues, but at the same time this meeting cannot solve all these issues.”
However, Wang said that while common ground should be sought, some issues “cannot be resolved.”
Wang said, “China will not compromise on issues of principle.”
The trade barriers are widely regarded as punishment by the previous Australian government for passing legislation that bans covert foreign interference in domestic politics, allowing Chinese-owned telecoms giant Huawei to build Australia’s 5G network over security concerns. Stops commissioning and calls for its independent investigation. COVID-19 pandemic.
Albanese raised his concerns about trade “blockages” in November when he attended the first formal bilateral meeting by an Australian government leader with Chinese President Xi Jinping since 2016.
In December, Foreign Minister Penny Wong became the first Australian Foreign Minister to visit China in four years.
The first shipments of Australian coal from China were due to arrive in the country this week since Beijing imposed an informal ban on the commodity 2 1/2 years ago, in the first clear sign Xi’s regime will roll back some restrictions on Australian exports, the Australian Financial Review informed of.