China’s Ambassador to Australia says talks are underway on ending WTO challenge to Beijing’s tariffs but saves his biggest criticism for AUKUS and Japan.
, if the Albanese government abandons its World Trade Organisation challenges, China’s top diplomat in Australia has revealed.
Trade Minister Don Farrell has repeatedly indicated his willingness to hold bilateral talks as an “off-ramp” to resolve what he has described as trade “blockages”., Mr Xiao said further goodwill was needed to end trade disputes, although he indicated Chinese authorities would notify Chinese companies and consumers of improved relations.
Mr Xiao spoke to a large contingent of Australian journalists, as well as Chinese media outlets, at the Chinese embassy on Tuesday for what was billed as a “New Year’s Press Gathering”, taking questions for more than an hour.He was upbeat about the health of the Chinese economy but defended the Communist government’s abandonment of its heavy-handed approach to managing COVID-19.
He said it was not a “good idea” for Australia, the United Kingdom and United States to be “targeting China as a potential threat or adversary” under the AUKUS agreement. Mr Xiao’s comments come after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles last week insisted the submarine project was on track after a leaked warning from two influential American senators that supplying Australia with submarines could stretch the US industrial base and harm the delivery of submarines to the US Navy.
Asked about the prospect of freeing detained Australians Cheng Lei and Yang Hengjun, Mr Xiao pleaded for patience.
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