The stable relationship between China and Australia is "not going back"

"Since China Australia relations have returned to the right track, there should be no hesitation, no deviation, and no turning back. Since the direction of progress is clear, we must strive to walk steadily, well, and far." On March 20th, Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, held the seventh round of China Australia diplomatic and strategic dialogue with Australian Foreign Minister Huang Yingxian in Canberra. When discussing the development experience of China Australia relations, Wang Yi made the above statement. This visit has received close attention from all sectors. According to the Australian News Agency, all issues from giant pandas to tariffs are on the table of candid discussions between the Chinese and Australian foreign ministers. According to the Associated Press, Wang Yi's visit is the highest level Chinese official Australia has received since 2017, and stabilizing relations is a key theme discussed by the foreign ministers of the two countries. Huang Yingxian said at a press conference after the meeting, "The stable relationship between Australia and China is not out of thin air, it requires continuous efforts, and this (dialogue) is the latest in the process." She also confirmed that the giant pandas "Wangwang" and "Funi" at the Adelaide Zoo in Australia may continue to stay, which is referred to by many Australian media as "great news" and a signal of stable progress in Sino Australian relations. On the same day, Australian Prime Minister Albanese met with Wang Yi, who was invited to meet with Australian opposition leader Darton and hold discussions with people from various sectors such as Australian business and strategy.
Wang Yi's Experience in Developing China Australia Relations
The Associated Press stated that the seventh round of China Australia Diplomatic and Strategic Dialogue is the highest level meeting held by the two countries in Australia since 2017. According to the Australian Associated Press, this is the sixth official meeting between Huang Yingxian and Wang Yi.
"This is our sixth meeting. Every time we meet, mutual trust between the two sides increases by one point, and China Australia relations take a step forward. This is the value of strengthening communication, which is a positive process of constantly increasing trust and resolving doubts. We hope that this momentum of good interaction can continue to be maintained," said Wang Yi.

  According to the Australian News Agency, China Australia relations have been declining since 2018 until the Labour Party takes office in 2022. Albanese and his Labour government spent several months reigniting Sino Australian relations.   In December of the same year, Huang Yingxian visited China and both sides agreed to "reorganize and set off again.". In November 2023, Albanese visited China, marking the first visit of an Australian Prime Minister to China since 2016.

"The ups and downs of the past decade (China Australia relations) have left us with lessons to learn and valuable experiences to cherish. Wang Yi said that the most fundamental thing is to adhere to mutual respect, the most crucial is to seek common ground while reserving differences, the most important is to adhere to mutual benefit and win-win, and the most precious is to adhere to independence and autonomy.". China has always pursued an independent and peaceful foreign policy, and our policy towards Australia has been consistent. Independence should also be an important principle of Australia's foreign policy. The development of China Australia relations should not be targeted towards third parties, nor should it be influenced or interfered with by third parties.
Huang Yingxian also expressed similar views at the press conference after the talks. The Associated Press stated that there are differences between China and Australia, but efforts to safeguard common interests will continue. "Australia will always be Australia, and China will always be China. However, we will cooperate where we can, raise different opinions where necessary, and handle these differences wisely," said Huang Yingxian.
According to Agence France Presse, the foreign ministers of the two countries also spent some time discussing giant pandas in the intense discussions on trade and security issues. Giant pandas "Wangwang" and "Funi" came to Adelaide Zoo in 2009 for a lease of 10 years. When the lease expired in 2019, the two sides reached an agreement to let them stay for another 5 years, which will expire this year. The Guardian reported that these are the only pair of giant pandas in Australia, witnessing the ups and downs of China Australia relations. Huang Yingxian said at a press conference on the 20th that although further arrangements need to be determined, the giant pandas at Adelaide Zoo may continue to stay. "I told Foreign Minister (Wang Yi) that my children will be very happy," he said.
Australian business people need to speak up
According to the Australian Associated Press, on the afternoon of the 20th, Albanese met with Wang Yi at the Parliament Building, and the two warmly exchanged greetings. Albanese stated that the Australian side is pleased to see that in the past two years, the relationship between Australia and China has returned to the right direction, with active trade, investment, and private exchanges, continuously releasing positive signals and achieving important breakthroughs. The relationship between Australia and China should not be defined by differences and differences, but rather by seeking common interests between both sides as much as possible. The Australian Labour Party made historic contributions to the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and China back then, and the current Labour government will continue to make efforts to promote the constructive development of Australia China relations.
The discussions between the Chinese Foreign Minister and professionals from various sectors such as business and strategy in Australia have been a focus of attention for Western media in recent days. The symposium is hosted by the Australia China Business Council (ACBC). Reuters reported on the 20th that 11 representatives from the Australian business community, universities, and think tanks attended the symposium, including executives from Australian mining giant Rio Tinto Group, CEOs representing Australian universities, and renowned scholars. China is Australia's largest trading partner, and Australian resources and energy exports dominate the trade between Australia and China. ACBC Chairman David Olson stated before the meeting that the Australian business community has always been "marginalized" in the dialogue between the governments of Australia and China, and the intergovernmental dialogue is mainly for national security reasons. ACBC needs to better understand how China views its position in the world.
According to the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the symposium, Wang Yi expressed appreciation to people from all walks of life in Australia for their long-term adherence to the concept of friendship with China and actively promoting mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Australia. He stated that China adheres to a mutually beneficial and win-win opening-up strategy, and the door to opening up to the outside world is getting wider and wider. It continues to create a market-oriented, rule of law, and international business environment, actively participates in international cooperation to cope with climate change, and continuously provides new opportunities for the world with China's new development.
"This is a free discussion that reflects different views and voices from the Australian side, as well as the ongoing dialogue on the future direction of Australia's relations with China." Hong Kong's South China Morning Post quoted Olson as saying on the 20th that academic research cooperation between Australia and China is very important. "These partnerships have brought enormous economic and social benefits to the two countries, while promoting long-lasting civil relations and supporting soft diplomacy efforts.".
Meeting with opposition party leaders in Australia as scheduled
In Canberra, Wang Yi also met with Australian opposition leader Darton as scheduled, and the party's foreign affairs spokesperson, Birmingham, attended. Wang Yi expressed that China is willing to maintain communication and cooperation with friends from all walks of life in Australia, and jointly build a more mature, stable, and fruitful comprehensive strategic partnership. Darton and Birmingham stated that the relationship between Australia and China is very important and strong, and both sides benefit from it. The opposition party in Australia is willing to strengthen communication with China, enhance understanding, properly resolve differences, deepen cooperation, and promote further development of Australia China relations.
According to The Australian, Birmingham stated after the meeting that "the focus of discussion at this meeting is on the present, the present, and the future, rather than looking back on the past." The Associated Press reported that Wang Yi will travel to Sydney on the 21st to meet with former Australian Prime Minister Keating and Governor of New South Wales, Collins.
The stable progress of China Australia relations and the role that the United States will play in it have attracted attention from Western public opinion. The Financial Times reported that Australia signed the "Okus" security partnership with the United States and the United Kingdom during a period of tense relations with China. Despite efforts by the Albanese government to stabilize relations with China since taking office, the "Okus" agreement continues.
On the 20th, Russian satellite news agency reported that Alcom Galin, an expert at the Institute of Oriental Studies at the Russian Academy of Sciences, believes that the development of China and Australia has completely disrupted the plans of those who are trying to tense the relationship between the two countries. The US government's advocacy for Australia to adopt an anti China policy, while the former Liberal Party government's attempt to undermine bilateral relations, was actually a failure and not in line with Australia's immediate interests. Both foreign ministers have stated that they will seek consensus, which is undoubtedly an important prerequisite for further improving bilateral relations. The current main issue is whether Australia can become a stable partner of China and how to balance its relationship with China and the United States.
Chen Hong, Director of the Australian Research Center at East China Normal University, told Global Times on the 20th that it is not easy for China Australia relations to recover to this point in less than two years, and the future is promising. At the same time, we are also acutely aware that Australia's position as an ally of the United States will not change. Huang Yingxian said, "Australia is Australia, China is China," and we agree with this viewpoint. But the Australian side must also understand that Australia is Australia, and the United States is the United States. If Australia engages in a clear division with China but agrees with the United States' anti China strategy, it would be illogical.