Chinese President Xi Jinping noted a “turnaround” in relations between his nation and Australia in a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Xi and Albanese met on Monday on the sidelines of the G20 leaders’ summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
“Over the past decade, we have made some progress in China-Australia relations and have also seen some twists and turns,” Xi told Albanese in their third bilateral meeting.
“That trajectory has a lot of inspiration to offer.”
“Now, our relations have achieved a turning point and continue to grow, bringing tangible benefits to our two peoples.”
Albanese, whose last meeting with Xi came during his visit to China last year, also acknowledged a repair of ties.
“We have resumed a series of dialogues. And the pace of bilateral visits is increasing. Trade flows more freely to the benefit of both countries,” Albanese told Xi.
“Our entire region will benefit from the prosperity that can come from peace, security and stability in our region.
“That’s why our direct discussions to build deeper understanding about the issues we care about are so important.”
Trade tensions ease but disagreements remain
The diplomatic dispute between China and Australia intensified in 2020, when the then Morrison government called for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19.
In response, Chinese authorities pumped in $20 billion including coal, barley, lobster, wine, which has since begun to raise.
Although relations have eased, some disagreements between Australia and China persist.
China’s growing militarization in the South China Sea, the AUKUS nuclear submarine deal and the detention of Australian writer Yang Hengjun remain issues.
A readout of the meeting said the prime minister raised: “Australia’s views on issues affecting regional and international peace, stability and prosperity”.
“The Prime Minister raised a number of bilateral issues, including consular issues and people-to-people links,” the spokesperson added.
Xi met with a number of world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Peru and the G20 in Brazil.
Looming over global summits was with global anxiety over his promise to impose major tariffs on all imports into the United States.
The next G20 leaders’ summit will be held in China in 2025.