China News Agency, Beijing, December 22 (Xie Yanbing and Huang Yuqin) At the invitation of Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, State Councilor and Foreign Minister, Australian Foreign Minister Huang Yingxian will visit China from December 20 to 21.
This visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia, and it is also the first visit to China by an Australian ministerial official since the end of 2019.
Over the past half century, China-Australia relations have had bright moments, but in recent years they have experienced troughs.
Regarding the problems facing China-Australia relations, China has clearly pointed out that the root cause lies in the previous Australian government's insistence on treating China as an "adversary" or even a threat, and adopted a series of irresponsible and rash words and deeds against China.
In May of this year, as the new Australian government came to power, the outside world is generally concerned about whether it can regain its "reasonable attitude toward China."
The Australian and New Zealand governments have also repeatedly demonstrated their positive will to improve and develop Australia-China relations this year, especially the special timing of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two sides, which provides an important opportunity for Australia-China relations to return to their original aspirations and calibrate their course.
Since the beginning of this year, China and Australia have increased the frequency of contact and interaction.
The defense ministers of the two countries held talks in Singapore in June.
In the following six months, the foreign ministers of China and Australia met twice in Bali and New York, and communicated by phone.
More importantly, during the G20 Bali Summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a face-to-face meeting with Australian Prime Minister Albanese to chart the course and provide strategic guidance for the improvement of bilateral relations.
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia, Xi Jinping exchanged congratulatory messages with Australian leaders.
Xi Jinping pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Australia 50 years ago, practical cooperation in various fields has achieved fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples.
The Australian side also stated that this correct decision has paved the way for the development of a strong, lasting and mutually beneficial relationship between the two countries.
The outside world also noticed that on the day Huang Yingxian visited China, Albanese published a signed article in The Australian to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Against the above background, the importance and particularity of Huang Yingxian's trip to China are highlighted.
Liu Qing, vice president of the China Institute of International Studies, pointed out that the 50-year development of China-Australia relations shows that the two countries have extensive common interests, and there are no historical grievances or fundamental conflicts of interests.
The Australian Foreign Minister's visit to China at this time is of great symbolic significance. It will help the two sides summarize the experience and lessons learned from 50 years of exchanges and interactions, and promote the further improvement of bilateral relations.
"Huang Yingxian's visit is at a historical point, but also has practical significance." Chen Fengying, a researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said that the leaders of China and Australia reached an important consensus during the meeting in Bali. Bring bilateral relations back to the right track.
Regarding China-Australia relations, the Chinese side has made it clear on many occasions that there is no "autopilot" mode to improve China-Australia relations, and practical actions are needed to restart the relationship.
During this visit, a major action is: a new round of China-Australia diplomatic and strategic dialogue.
Since the fifth round of the China-Australia Diplomatic and Strategic Dialogue in 2018, this dialogue mechanism has been suspended for four years, and this restart has attracted much attention from the outside world.
Wang Yi made it clear in this round of dialogue that in the past few years, China-Australia relations have encountered difficulties and setbacks, which we do not want to see, and we must fully learn from them.
The two sides should take the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to return to their original aspirations, calibrate their course, repack their bags and set off again, so as to promote the further improvement and sustainable development of bilateral relations.
In addition, Wang Yi emphasized that the two sides should abide by the promises made at the time of the establishment of diplomatic relations, adhere to correct mutual understanding and a mature way of getting along, maintain policy stability, and never go back and turn over biscuits.
He also put forward three suggestions for the future development of China-Australia relations: mutual respect, seeking common ground while reserving differences, and mutual benefit and win-win results.
For a period of time, both China and Australia have continuously emphasized the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, and peaceful coexistence.
Chen Fengying analyzed this and said that Australia's perception of China has been biased, and it has repeatedly adopted wrong words and deeds on issues related to China's core interests such as Hong Kong, Xinjiang, and Taiwan, resulting in continuous difficulties in Sino-Australian relations.
In this round of diplomatic and strategic dialogue, China once again puts forward targeted proposals from a strategic perspective in response to the practical problems in China-Australia relations, which will help guide the direction of the relationship between the two countries.
This time, the two sides issued a joint statement on the outcomes of the China-Australia Diplomatic and Strategic Dialogue, agreeing to maintain high-level exchanges, start or restart dialogue and communication in six areas including bilateral relations, economic and trade issues, and consular affairs, and emphasized support for people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries.
"The restoration of communication channels between China and Australia is of great benefit to the improvement of bilateral relations, and it will help China and Australia to find a more mature way of getting along." Chen Fengying analyzed that, especially as the important "glue" of China-Australia relations, economy and trade can provide a good balance for both sides. lay a solid foundation for the future development of bilateral relations.
Australia is also full of expectations for the return of Australia-China relations to the right track, especially the business community.
According to a previous report by The Australian, as optimism about Australia-China relations grows, a trip to China is on the agenda of Australian business leaders.
The joint statement specifically mentions that the two sides agreed to support the China-Australia Business CEO Roundtable and the mutual visits of the business groups of the two countries, so as to send another positive signal for China-Australia economic and trade exchanges.
When discussing the return of bilateral relations to the right track in the future, how to deal with each other's differences is a "must answer question".
It is undeniable that differences between China and Australia still exist objectively.
Liu Qing pointed out that the Australian Foreign Minister's visit will help the two sides to find a mutually acceptable solution through consultations. It remains to be seen how Australia will implement the consensus into concrete actions, and at the same time not follow the steps of other countries on important international issues.
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