China-Australia relations: Beijing paying ‘great attention’ to Australian scrutiny of investments, vice-trade minister says after meeting

China’s vice-trade minister has urged Australia not to use national security as an excuse to hamper Chinese investment in a meeting with his Australian counterpart.

A meeting earlier this week between Wang Shouwen and Tim Ayres, Australia’s assistant minister for trade, was held “at the request” of Canberra, according to the statement released by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce on Friday.

It comes ahead of a trip by Australian trade minister Don Farrell to China, as well as a possible visit by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese later this year.

Wang, who is also China’s international trade representative, said Beijing pays “great attention” to Australian scrutiny of Chinese investments and anti-dumping investigations into its exports.

“We hope that Australian authorities can handle relevant cases reasonably and autonomously to raise the confidence of Chinese investors,” he said on the sidelines of the Boao Forum for Asia on Wednesday.

Bilateral relations have recently shown signs of improving after a turbulent last three years in which Beijing imposed a range of trade sanctions and import tariffs on Australian products.