Australia and China open their first high-level dialogue in 3 years in a sign of a slight thaw

Australia, China open high-level dialogue, thawing relations. Trade, people-to-people links, security discussed. PM Albanese meets Premier Li, seeks to cooperate, disagree where needed. China imposed tariffs on Australian products in 2020, but recently lifted barley tariff. Advocacy for detained Australians in China continues.

Australia and China opened their first high-level dialogue in three years Thursday in a sign of a slight thaw to relations between countries that have clashed on everything from human rights to COVID-19 origins to trade.

"I welcome the recent positive developments in the bilateral relationship, but we know that there is more work to do,” said Craig Emerson, the head of the Australian delegation and a former trade minister.

The dialogue being held in Beijing will focus on trade, people-to-people links and security.

China’s former Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said the two countries should work together, but added that “we should adhere to the liberalisation of trade and jointly oppose the Cold War mentality, bloc confrontation and trade protectionism”.

Beijing often uses those terms in opposing the actions of Western countries, particularly the U.S.

During the freeze in relations with Beijing, Australia formed a nuclear partnership with the U.S. and the United Kingdom that enables Australia to access nuclear-powered submarines.

Australia's current Foreign Minister Penny Wong has sought to stabilise the two countries' relationship since her party won elections last year.