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Asian Angle | Australia’s Albanese will visit Beijing with wine tariffs, thawing ties front of mind
- Bilateral ties previously hit a low over trade disputes, the detention of two Australians in China and the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic
- But a change in Australia’s federal government last year has led China to reassess its foreign-policy interests in the region
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The defrost in relations between China and Australia started cautiously after Canberra’s change of federal government last year. It then sped up, culminating in the announcement last weekend of the much-anticipated visit by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to China.
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The bilateral relationship appears to be heading back to room temperature fast.
During Albanese’s visit from November 4 to 7, he will hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang, and also attend the China International Import Expo in Shanghai.
Ahead of the announcement, both countries have taken major steps to improve ties. First came the release of Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who was previously detained in China for three years, although Australian writer Yang Hengjun remains in Chinese detention. This was followed by Albanese’s announcement that China would conduct a five-month review of its tariffs on Australian wine, which prompted Australia to file a complaint at the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2021.
In the meantime, Canberra has promised to suspend its WTO action, but Albanese said “if the duties are not removed at the end of the review, Australia will resume the dispute in the WTO. We are confident of a successful outcome”.
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