China releases details of PM talks as its No. 3 official warns Australia to respect Taiwan ‘core interests’
The Chinese Foreign Ministry released a readout on Zhao Leji’s meetings in Australia despite Anthony Albanese’s office saying details of such meetings were kept secret.
China’s No.3 leader told Anthony Albanese – in a meeting the Prime Minister’s Office kept the details of secret – he expects Australia to respect his country’s core interests in Taiwan and the South China Sea, as the communist government in Beijing released an official readout of the talks.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry released a read-out of Zhao Leji’s meetings in Australia despite Mr Albanese’s office the previous day saying details of such meetings were only disclosed for leader-to-leader engagements.
Mr Zhao, the chairman of China’s National People’s Congress and a key ally of President Xi Jinping, also met Governor-General Sam Mostyn and the parliament’s presiding officers Milton Dick and Sue Lines. The readout also offered details of those talks.
It was revealed China’s third-highest official and the King’s representative talked about their two nations working together on the issues of women’s rights and climate change.
The dismissal of Tuesday’s talks had come after a “private conversation” in which Mr Xi told US President Donald Trump in a Tuesday morning (AEST) phone call that Taiwan’s “return to China” was key to Beijing’s vision of the post-war world order.
In the readout provided on Wednesday, it was revealed Mr Zhao also raised China’s views on Taiwan with Mr Albanese.
“At the working breakfast meeting held in Albanese, Zhao Leji said that the transformation of China-Australia relations and the resumption of dialogue and co-operation in various fields were generally welcomed and supported by people in all walks of life in both countries,” a translation of the statement from Mandarin to English says.
“There is no conflict of fundamental interests between China and Australia,” it reads.
“Taiwan Province, Hong Kong, Xizang, Xinjiang, the South China Sea and other issues are related to China’s territorial sovereignty and core interests. We hope the Australian side will understand and respect China’s position.”
Mr Albanese said the “current development of Australia-China relations is sound”, the Chinese readout of the Parliament House meeting on Tuesday states.
“The Australian side is willing to maintain regular communication with China and promote the continued stable development of bilateral relations,” the statement adds.
In another sign of transparency from China’s communist government, the readout also states that Mr Zhao and the Governor-General had discussed in their Wednesday talks co-operation on education, trade, women’s rights and climate change.
“When meeting with Mostyn, Zhao Leji first conveyed President Xi Jinping’s cordial greetings and best wishes,” the Chinese statement states.
“Mostyn said Australia and China have carried out good co-operation in trade, culture and education and bilateral relations have continued to deepen.
“Australia is willing to strengthen co-operation with China in the fields of green infrastructure, energy transformation, climate change and protection of women’s rights and interests.”
Mr Zhao also told Mr Dick, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Senator Lines, the President of the Senate, that the Australian parliament – which is elected democratically – and the People’s Congress – where only members of the Communist Party can sit – could work together and learn from each other.
“Zhao Leji introduced the spirit of the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, opening up to the outside world and expanding domestic demand, and said the legislatures of the two countries can exchange and learn from each other on foreign-related legislation and creating a good business environment,” the readout states.
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