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China-Australia relations
EconomyChina Economy

Exclusive | China-Australia normal trade resumption may be at hand, but what still stands in the way?

  • Sources say a Beijing visit by Australian prime minister is already being prepared, but don’t expect a formal invite until after Beijing’s leadership reshuffle
  • And a recently announced China visit by trade minister Don Farrell could aim to address complaints at World Trade Organization

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Australia’s trade minister, Don Farrell (left) speaks with China’s commerce minister, Wang Wentao, during a virtual meeting last week. Photo: AP
Kandy Wong
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s anticipated visit to Beijing later this year is expected to “demonstrate a full resumption between the two countries” after all trade barriers are settled, according to two sources with direct knowledge of the issue.
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To that end, the recently announced visit of Australian trade minister Don Farrell to Beijing “in the near future” aims to remove trade impediments. He accepted an invitation from China’s commerce minister, Wang Wentao, to continue the “productive dialogue” after the virtual meeting held on February 6.

There is not yet a clear timetable for the visits, according to the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity, but the prime minister hopes to show that China and Australia have restarted their normal relationship by travelling to Beijing and meeting with his Chinese counterparts.

And while one of the sources said that the foreign ministries of both countries have started preparing for Albanese’s China visit, the formal invitation has to wait until at least the new leadership in Beijing has officially taken the helm after the annual “two sessions” parliamentary meetings next month.

The Post reported on February 2 that Albanese “looks forward to seeing” a face-to-face meeting between Farrell and Wang ahead of the prime minister’s anticipated visit.

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