The first leaders’ meeting between Australia and China following years of strained relations will take place on Tuesday in Bali, Indonesia, according to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
“We enter this discussion with goodwill. There are no preconditions to this discussion. I am looking forward to having constructive dialogue,” Albanese told media as he touched down on the resort island for the G20 summit.
The leaders of Australia and China briefly conversed at the 2019 G20 conference in Japan, but they haven’t had a formal meeting in five years.
China is still Australia’s biggest commercial partner, but relations have deteriorated due to disagreements over Chinese behavior and influence in the Asia-Pacific area. After Canberra demanded a probe into the causes of the Covid-19 outbreak, relations have all but disintegrated.
Beijing’s recent aspirations in the Pacific as well as China’s recent detentions of Australians, including journalist Cheng Lei, have angered Canberra.
But the victory of center-left candidate Albanese seemed to offer a way to end the standoff.
After a two-year gap, ministerial-level discussions between Australia and China were restored in June.
“Australia will put forward our own position. I look forward to having a constructive discussion with Xi tomorrow,” Albanese said.
“I have said since I became prime minister but before then as well that dialogue is always a good thing. We need to talk in order to develop mutual understanding.” said the Australian Prime Minister.
December will mark 50 years since China and Australia first established diplomatic ties. Don Farrell, the trade minister, stated in a speech on Monday that Canberra was ready to negotiate a settlement with Beijing to avoid WTO litigation.
