Australian minister seeks unimpeded trade with China
Australia's trade minister flew to Beijing on Thursday on a mission to dismantle all Chinese import barriers after years of punishing sanctions and unofficial bans. Trade Minister Don Farrell said he aimed to secure unrestricted commerce with China, Australia's largest trade partner with a healthy appetite for its vast iron ore and coal resources. "During my visit, I will be advocating strongly for the full resumption of unimpeded Australian exports to China – for all sectors," he said in a statement on the eve of Friday's meeting. Farrell, who is to meet with China's commerce minister, Wang Wentao, said fully reopening trade would benefit exporters and producers in both countries. The meeting represents a "significant breakthrough" in rebuilding the relationship, said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson, who is with the Australian delegation. It will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two nations' trade ministers since 2019, he said. "We recognise that this won't happen overnight, but the removal of the trade obstacles affecting Australian exporters would be seen as an important step in rebuilding confidence and trust," Olsson said. President Xi Jinping called for relations with Australia to "improve" and "develop" in a November 2022 meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. It was the first formal summit between the two countries in more than five years. China then took delivery of its first Australian coal shipment in February this year, after an unofficial ban of two years. Trade in other goods also appears set to open up. (AFP)