Chinese visit ‘enhances mutual political trust’

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in Australia tomorrow for talks with counterpart Julie Bishop

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. Picture: Greg Baker

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrives in Australia tomorrow for talks with counterpart Julie Bishop in the aftermath of the notoriously awkward phone conversation between Malcolm Turnbull and US President Donald Trump.

The Foreign Ministers will lead the annual Diplomatic and Strategic Dialogue, the fourth between the countries. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang described China-Australia relations as “growing with a sound momentum, with frequent exchanges between the leadership and at various levels, with fruitful outcomes in all-round co-operation”.

He said the free trade agreement between the countries, in force for just over a year, “is in full swing with good performance” — while, although not mentioned by Mr Lu, the US has withdrawn from the Trans Pacific Partnership that would have brought Australia and America closer economically.

Mr Wang and Ms Bishop are expected to discuss progress towards the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership trade pact led by China, co-ordinated by ASEAN, and which involves Australia but not the US.

This will be Mr Wang’s first international visit following Chinese New Year, thus highlighting the importance attached to growing relations with Australia, Mr Lu said — as well as with New Zealand, which Mr Wang will visit immediately afterwards.

He anticipated the visit “would contribute to enhancing mutual political trust”, with 2017 marking the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Australia and the People’s Republic of China. The positive build-up by China underlines the opportunity sensed by Beijing to strengthen its hand in the region as US allies grapple with Donald Trump’s unpredictability.