Australia intends to solve trade issues with China

According to a statement made on Tuesday by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong, she would urge China to lift trade sanctions and provide consular access to two Australians detained in the country. Wong is intended to negotiate the mentioned issues with Chinese representatives during her visit to Beijing, which is aimed at restoration of diplomatic ties between the countries.

It is scheduled that Wong will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday. However, she warned against expecting quick results.

In a media briefing in Canberra, Wong noted that resolving issues in relations between the countries would take a considerable amount of time, particularly in regard to reaching resolutions in the interests of Australia. Meanwhile, she sees the upcoming visit as an important step towards the goal.

Wong’s trip will become the first visit of an Australian official since 2019. Thus, that will mark a return to formal negotiation on the highest level between the countries, which haven’t been held in Beijing since 2018.