Paul Keating leaves Chinese consulate after meeting Wang Yi

The former PM says Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi showed a ‘keen understanding of Australia’s strengths’ in their controversial private meeting.

Former PM Paul Keating with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. at the Chinese-Consulate in Sydney. Picture: Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Paul Keating says Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi showed a “keen understanding of Australia’s strengths” in their private meeting on Thursday, underlining China’s importance to Australia’s economy.

Mr Keating said his hour and five minute meeting with Mr Wang was “very pleasant and engaging”. They had a largely “big picture discussion about the geostrategic balances and influences in the world”, he said.

“The Foreign Minister was very positive about putting bilateral difficulties behind us as he was encouraged by the government’s efforts in restoring appropriate equilibrium between our two countries,” Mr Keating said in a statement after the meeting.

“Minister Wang Yi emphasised China’s ability to keep on growing and strongly, pointing out that China is still only 55 per cent urbanised – another 20 per cent to go.

“He said the world will still benefit from China’s ability to supply high quality relatively low priced goods which will help underwrite higher living standards in the West and other regions of the world.

“He both encouraged and welcomed Australia’s continuing integration with East Asia where he believed Australia’s future lies.

“The Foreign Minister displayed a keen understanding of Australia’s strengths. Its complementarity with China’s own economy and the prospect of ever rising living standards for both countries.”

Mr Keating said Mr Wang was “very positive about putting bilateral difficulties behind us”, and was encouraged by the Albanese government’s efforts to restore “appropriate equilibrium” between the countries.

He said the Chinese envoy was pleased to have spoken to Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton on Thursday after his “productive meeting” with Foreign Minister Penny Wong.

Mr Keating said the conversation also ranged over the history of the bilateral relationship, including “my relationship with Jiang Zemin and Zhu Rongji in putting together APEC”.

Hours after Mr Keating left the consulate, China’s national broadcaster CCTV released a report on the meeting which was widely republished on Chinese news portals.

“Wang Yi appreciated Keating’s long-term concern and support for the development of China-Australia relations,” CCTV reported.

China’s Foreign Minister told the former prime minister that the two countries should “understand and trust each other” and “pursue win-win co-operation”.

The Chinese broadcaster said Mr Wang noted that Australia was an ally of the United States, but said he added that Canberra was “welcome to independently” make policies based on its “own fundamental interests”.

Mr Keating praised China’s “huge” economy and noted its “vast space for development”, according to CCTV’s account of the meeting which was closed to Australian media.

Mr Keating said it “did not pose a threat to other countries” and was contributing to “regional peace and stability”, according to Chinese state media broadcaster.

Brief meeting

Mr Keating left the Chinese consulate in Sydney, just over an hour after he arrived for his meeting with Mr Wang.

Shortly before midday, the compound doors opened and Mr Keating’s car left very quickly with a sharp beep at the media scrum waiting outside.

Mr Keating had arrived in a grey Skoda sedan and appeared to cover his face to a photographer from The Australian.

Mr Wang arrived earlier in the morning, around 10.15am, in a motorcade with a police escort. He was accompanied by Chinese ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian.

A film crew, understood to be freelancers working for CGTN — Chinese state media — were earlier allowed into the compound.

Paul Keating covers his face as he arrives for a meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Sydney. Picture: Britta Campion

Penny Wong on Wednesday sent a clear message to China that the pro-Beijing former prime minister has no influence over government policy ahead of the meeting.

In her first comment on Mr Wang’s scheduled audience with Mr Keating on Thursday, the Foreign Minister told The Australian: “Mr Keating is entitled to his views. He does not speak for the government nor the country.”

The pointed remark follows Mr Keating’s repeated criticism of Senator Wong’s performance as Foreign Minister, and the government’s ongoing warnings over China’s destabilising influence in the region.

Senator Wong’s move to downplay Mr Keating’s influence came as Climate Change Minister and Keating confidant Chris Bowen declared the 80-year-old former Labor leader was a “deeply respected” figure across Asia.

“It is entirely usual for a visiting Foreign Minister to seek out a former prime minister, particularly one who played the role he did in Australia finding security in Asia, not from Asia, as Paul Keating did all those years ago,” Mr Bowen told the ABC.

But opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham, who will also meet with Mr Wang on Wednesday, said Mr Keating’s interventions were “reckless and irresponsible”, and had been “clearly welcomed for propaganda purposes elsewhere”.

“I think, frankly, Paul Keating should reconsider his undertaking of this meeting,” Senator Birmingham said.

China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman in Beijing was asked again on Thursday about the Chinese initiative to set up a meeting with Mr Keating, who has been a loud critic of AUKUS and Senator Wong.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi has refused all engagements with Australian journalists during his three day visit, making the regular daily press conference in Beijing the only opportunity to ask the Chinese government about the trip.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian defended his boss’s itinerary and said “mutual respect” was fundamental to the bilateral relationship.

“China stands ready to continue our friendly communication and exchange with people of various sectors in Australia,” Mr Lin said.

The Chinese Foreign Minister also met with members of the Australia-China Parliamentary Group on Wednesday in Canberra.

As with all of Mr Wang’s Chinese organised engagements during his visit, no Australian media were invited to the closed door event. It was revealed hours after it took place by China’s official media agency Xinhua.

The Chinese Foreign Minister is scheduled to fly out of Sydney on Thursday evening after an engagement with members of the Australian-Chinese community and the travelling Chinese media pack.