China-Australia Summit... "Discussion on Trade and Human Rights Issues"

On the 15th (local time), Chinese President Xi Jinping and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shake hands before their summit meeting in Bali, Indonesia.
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] China and Australia, which had been at odds over influence in the Pacific region, showed a willingness to improve relations at a summit meeting for the first time in six years.

On the 15th (local time), according to Australia's ABC News and others, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese held a bilateral meeting in Bali, Indonesia, where the Group of 20 (G20) summit was taking place.

Before the meeting began, President Xi stated in his opening remarks that although the two countries have maintained a close relationship for a long time, they have faced difficulties in recent years and emphasized the need to improve relations. He added, "Since China and Australia are important countries in the Asia-Pacific region, we must improve, maintain, and develop bilateral relations. This aligns with the fundamental interests of both countries and helps promote peace and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world."

Prime Minister Albanese mentioned that this year marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Australia and China, saying, "At that time, we agreed on the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence, which remain important to this day." He also expressed hope for constructive exchanges and dialogue.

After the meeting, Prime Minister Albanese told reporters that he discussed trade, human rights issues, and more with President Xi, describing the talks as "very positive and constructive." He acknowledged that differences in positions between the two countries were confirmed, stating, "There are still many steps to take. We will cooperate where we can and oppose where we must."

Relations between the two countries have sharply deteriorated in recent years. In 2018, Australia excluded the Chinese telecommunications equipment company Huawei from its 5G network project at the request of the Trump administration in the United States. In retaliation, China imposed high tariffs on about ten Australian products, including wine, beef, and coal.

Recently, China has been expanding its military influence in the South Pacific by signing a security agreement with the Solomon Islands. Australia, meanwhile, announced plans to introduce nuclear-powered submarines and deploy the U.S. B-52 strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons through the AUKUS security alliance with the United States and the United Kingdom. The two countries are also in conflict over the case of Cheng Lei (47), an Australian citizen of Chinese descent who was arrested on charges of leaking state secrets.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.