China, Australia trade ministers to meet virtually
State media has reported that Beijing and Canberra have agreed that trade ministers from the two countries will hold virtual discussions, after a meeting between the two sides on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Relations between the two countries are improving after years of strained ties, with President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit last November. The Xinhua news agency on Thursday reported that the virtual discussions would take place “in the near future”, and that currently, no date has been set for the video meeting between Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and his Australian counterpart, Don Farrell. Australia's Assistant Minister for Trade Tim Ayres, who was at the World Economic Forum meeting on Thursday, also pushed for the removal of what he called Beijing's "trade impediments" on Australian exports. "Assistant Minister Ayres raised the importance of cooperation to deliver the outcomes of the World Trade Organization 12th Ministerial Conference, and the removal of current trade impediments affecting Australian exports to China in both countries' interests," a spokeswoman for Ayres said in a statement. Several mainland companies have received permission to resume purchases of Australian coal this month. Canberra has two complaints at the World Trade Organization against mainland tariffs on Australian wine and barley, and is watching to see if Beijing lifts unofficial trade blockages on other Australian exports. (Reuters)