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China and Australia are talking again, but hopes for meaningful progress remain low
- The two countries have agreed to resume high-level dialogues after several years, but they appear unwilling to shift on some of the main sticking points
- Canberra’s concerns include trade restrictions and the detention of 2 Australians, while Beijing is worried about security ties with the US and investment curbs
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China and Australia agreed to resume high-level talks on diplomacy, trade, and security after a meeting between their foreign ministers this week, but experts said lingering distrust means a “meaningful reset” in relations is unlikely.
The two sides released a joint statement on Wednesday, agreeing to start or resume talks covering six areas – bilateral relations, trade, consular affairs, climate change, defence, and international and regional issues – after years in which their dialogue mechanisms were suspended.
“They agreed to a relationship based on mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and navigating differences, in keeping with our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” the statement said.
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The joint statement came after foreign ministers Wang Yi and Penny Wong met in Beijing, the first visit by an Australian foreign minister since 2018.
Talks between China and Australia have been suspended for years due to growing tensions after Australia’s ban on Huawei Technologies’ 5G equipment and Chinese restrictions on Australian products after former prime minister Scott Morrison called for an international inquiry into the origins of Covid-19.
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But the past six months have seen a slight thaw, with ministerial meetings at the Shangri-La security dialogues in Singapore and the Group of 20 foreign ministers meeting. Last month this was followed by the first meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the G20 summit in Bali.
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