Marise Payne in ‘frank’ talks with Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian

Marise Payne has held the first face-to-face meeting between a senior government figure and high-ranking Chinese official in two years.

Marise Payne is seeking ‘areas of co-operation’ with China ‘while remaining consistent with our own national sovereign interests’. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

Foreign Minister Marise Payne has set out Australia’s “frank” positions on human rights, stability in the Indo-Pacific and free trade in the first face-to-face meeting between a senior government figure and high-ranking Chinese ­official in two years.

Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian

Senator Payne met Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian in Sydney on Wednesday after he requested a meeting following his arrival in Australia in late January.

“The Minister for Foreign Affairs set out frankly Australia’s positions on a range of issues, including the importance of appropriate ministerial and other high-level dialogue and engagement, stability in the Indo-Pacific, free and open trade, human rights and the welfare of Australians detained in China,” Senator Payne’s spokesman said on Thursday.

“She also articulated Australia’s expectation that China use its influence to encourage and ­advise Russia to end the illegal ­invasion of Ukraine.”

He said Australia remained committed to a constructive relationship with China in which “we can pursue areas of co-operation, while remaining consistent with our own national sovereign interests and focused on stability”.

Penny Wong. Picture: David Mariuz

Opposition foreign affairs spokeswoman Penny Wong said Chinese officials had requested a similar meeting with Labor and she would consult with Senator Payne to ensure there were “very clear and consistent bipartisan messages from both parties of government about what we regard as important from Australia’s perspective”.

“I think it is a good thing that the ambassador has sought a meeting with the Foreign Minister. Regardless of difference, engagement is important,” Senator Wong told Sky News. “Neither country is going away so it’s important where we can to engage, but to engage very clearly on the terms that Aus­tralia expects, which is that our nat­ional interests are respected.”

Since arriving in Australia, Mr Xiao has tried to thaw hostilities between the embassy and the government, which peaked under his predecessor, Cheng Jingye, and the release of Beijing’s “list of 14 grievances”.

Despite the posturing, China has maintained its trade bans on Australian exports, including wine, barley and coal products.

In January, Mr Xiao said the Australia-China relationship was at a “critical juncture facing many difficulties and challenges as well as enormous opportunities and potentials”. He said he would work with government officials and business leaders to “push … relations back to the right track”.