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China-Australia relations
ChinaDiplomacy

Australia wants ‘new type of relationship with China’, analyst says, as Prime Minister Albanese declares 4-day visit

  • Given its close trade ties with both US and China, Australia could potentially act as a bridge in multilateral ties, Sichuan University professor says
  • Albanese’s announcement of November 4-7 visit to China follows breakthrough in dispute over damaging wine tariffs

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Australia has reached a deal with China to review its wine tariffs and solve their WTO dispute. Photo: Reuters
Luna Sunin Beijing
Rapidly shifting global dynamics could see Australia explore new economic ties with China, an observer said.
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This came as Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced he would visit Beijing next month to meet President Xi Jinping, and China indicated it would suspend tariffs on Australian wine.

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce confirmed on Sunday that Beijing had reached an agreement with Canberra on a “proper resolution” of trade disputes over wine and wind towers, after similar announcements were made by Australia.

“China and Australia are important trading partners to each other, and China is willing to continue through dialogue and negotiation, working together to advance the stable and healthy development of our bilateral economic and trade relationship,” the ministry said in a statement.

Pang Zhongying, an international affairs professor at Sichuan University, said Canberra was seeking a “new type of relationship” with its top two-way trading partner.

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“Australia, sandwiched between China and the West, is actively exploring a new type of relationship with China, as the relationship between China and the United States remains uncertain and filled with challenges,” Pang said, highlighting US-China rows over the Covid-19 pandemic and the Ukraine war in particular.

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