Canberra, 13 April 2023 (TDI): China and Australia held bilateral talks between senior officials on April 11, 2023. The main focus during the bilateral meeting was to focus on trade, human rights, and the strategic competition sector.
DFAT was headed by Ms. Jan Adams AO PSM, Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Mr. Ma Zhaoxu, Executive Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China.
The discussions covered a wide variety of bilateral and international issues, including commerce, consular, human rights, geopolitical competition, and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Secretary Adams reaffirmed that it was in Australia’s and China’s mutual interests to remain on the road of bilateral relationship stabilization.
The talks came after Foreign Ministers agreed in December 2022 at the Foreign and Strategic conversation organization to continue high-level communication and read restart conversations in a variety of sectors.
In February 2019, Australia and China had bilateral discussions at the Secretary-level in Beijing.
During a “significant” meeting with the most senior official from China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry on Wednesday, Australia emphasized the necessity of stabilizing relations with China after a turbulent few years.
Human rights and strategic competitiveness are two issues on which the two nations rarely agree.
Also read: China Urges to revoke decisions on Nuclear Submarine Cooperation
Two subjects on which the two countries rarely agree are human rights and strategic competitiveness.
“Secretary Adams reiterated that it was in Australia and China’s mutual interests to continue on the path of bilateral relationship stabilization.”
The discussion of a varied and frequently contentious variety of themes, according to James Laurenceson, head of Australia-China Relations, is encouraging.
Adams remarked that “There is no doubt that it is significant.” I mean, this is the highest-ranking Chinese official to visit Australia in almost six years. “I believe that tells you a lot,”
“The fact that the talks took place at the level of senior officials rather than political leaders is significant because it is the officials who are tasked with resolving some of the issues.”
