Australia and China’s trade ministers will meet to discuss a years-long trade dispute that slapped restrictions on billions of dollars worth of goods.
Don Farrell will be hosted by his Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao in Beijing on Friday.
Senator Farrell says he hopes to walk away with a pathway toward ending all remaining tariffs and trade barriers on Australian products.
“We’re here to continue the process of stabilising our trading relationship. There’s no better way to progress that dialogue than face-to-face meetings,” he said upon arrival.
On Friday, the minister was given a surprise tour of Beijing’s Forbidden City by senior Chinese commerce ministry official, Peng Wei.
The opulent 15th century palace is a World Heritage site and a source of immense national pride.
Australian officials said the tour was a “welcome development”, after earlier playing down expectations for the afternoon’s formal talks aimed at resolving Chinese trade bans on Australian products.
The trade minister said a stable relationship, including through trade, between Canberra and Beijing would also boost the prospect of regional peace.
“Nothing’s going to do more to achieve peace in our region than strong trading relationships between Australia and China,” he said.
Australia paused its World Trade Organisation dispute against China’s punitive tariffs on barley, in what the government called a sign of goodwill, as Beijing agreed to expedite its review of the imposition.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told reporters in Sydney the dialogue with Australia’s major trading partner was welcome.
“We welcome dialogue,” he said.
“Our major trading partner is important for jobs and for our economy.
“And I have said that you don’t achieve anything by having having no discussion.
“What we need is to develop understanding and dialogue … we’ll co-operate with China where we can , we will disagree where we must and will engage in our national interest.”
The minister also met with Baowu Steel after disembarking in Beijing on Thursday.
The state-owned steelmaker was one of the first companies to resume buying Australian coal earlier this year.
The Australian government then approved Baowu’s involvement in a $2 billion iron ore project in Western Australia with Rio Tinto.
– AAP
