Australia Trade Minister seeks to mend ties on visit to China

Australia's Trade and Tourism Minister Don Farrell appears to be making progress in restoring a nearly decade-long rift in relations with China during a visit to Beijing. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaking in Sydney on May 12 said the sides needed to “develop understanding and dialogue and I've said we'll co-operate with China where we can, we'll disagree where we must and we'll engage in a national interest.” China is Australia's biggest trading partner, with two-way exchanges totalling $287 billion in 2022. China recently resumed imports of coal, cotton and copper from Australia, and Mr. Farrell has said on his visit he would push for a review of tariffs on Australian barley. Beijing has strongly criticised Australia's participation in the so-called AUKUS partnership, which links it with the United States and Britain to create an Australian fleet of eight submarines powered by U.S. nuclear technology, largely in response to China's growing military assertiveness in the South China Sea, the South Pacific and the East China Sea. Mr. Farrell also said he would meet with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao following a commitment in February to improve dialogue “at all levels as a pathway towards the full resumption of trade.”