What’s new: Wang Yi is set to travel to Australia next week in the first visit Down Under by a Chinese foreign minister in seven years, the foreign ministry announced, the latest sign of the two sides trying to mend ties.
During the visit, which begins Sunday, Wang and Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong will hold the 7th China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue, China’s foreign ministry spokesperson said during a daily briefing Thursday.
During Wang’s five-day trip, he will also pay an official visit to New Zealand and meet with his counterpart Winston Peters, among other officials, the spokesperson said.
Beijing hopes to “enhance strategic communication” and “deepen mutual trust” with Canberra and Wellington, while promoting “steady and sustained growth,” the spokesperson added.
The background: China-Australia relations have shown signs of improvement in recent months, after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Beijing in November. Australian wine companies and politicians said earlier this week that China has proposed lifting punitive tariffs on the nation’s wine.
New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visited China in June, following a trip by the nation’s then-Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta three months earlier. The island nation has been regarded as maintaining its independence from some other Western countries in its China policy.
Contact reporter Kelly Wang (jingzhewang@caixin.com) and editor Michael Bellart (michaelbellart@caixin.com)
