The prime minister has duplicated his message in Beijing to remove trade sanctions in an attempt to repair Australia-China relations which he suggested had “a long way to go”.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has reiterated his calls on China to withdraw its trade sanctions against Australia to begin repairing the fractured relationship.
Canberra and Beijing have resumed face-to-face communications after a diplomatic freeze that lasted nearly three years under Morrison’s rule.
Albanese stressed the importance of lifting sanctions after his defense minister, Richard Marles, met with his Chinese counterpart almost two weeks ago.
Trade sanctions – applied to various industries in 2020 after then-Prime Minister Scott Morrison called for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19 – affected several Australian exports such as timber, coal, barley, meat and wine.
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Earlier this month, the prime minister said Beijing should first lift sanctions against Australia before the relationship could begin to heal.
“It is China that has imposed sanctions, it is China that has changed and it is China that must remove these sanctions,” he said on June 15.
Albanese reflected on his previous message in Beijing during an interview with ABC’s Leigh Sales on the 7:30 program.
“Well, China already, there have been some improvements, but it’s a long way to go,” he said, referring to the resumption of dialogue between his ministers.
“I said that before the election, regardless of the outcome, China has sanctions against Australia that should be removed.
“They are damaging the Australian economy and jobs, but they are causing damage to the Chinese economy.”
He added that it would be a “problematic relationship” if sanctions remain in place.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded to initial sanctions remarks made by Mr. Albanian.
“It is quite clear how the difficulties faced by China-Australia relations arose,” he said, subtly pointing to the former coalition.
“China ‘s position on the development of the bilateral relationship is consistent and clear.
“The Australian side must manage bilateral ties in accordance with the principles of mutual respect, mutual benefit and mutual benefit results, and work with China for the solid and steady development of the comprehensive China-Australia strategic partnership.”
Albanese has been touring the world and meeting with world leaders during the first month of his leadership to represent the newly elected Labor government.
He told Sales that he will also meet with French Prime Minister Emmanuel Macron when he travels to Europe for the NATO summit next Tuesday.
The prime minister said it was an opportunity to “re-establish” relations between Paris and Canberra after they worsened when Australia canceled its $ 90 billion submarine deal with France.
Instead, Morrison chose to align with the United States and the United Kingdom for the AUKUS trilateral agreement to acquire at least eight nuclear-powered submarines.