Visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating in Sydney, Australia, March 21, 2024. (PHOTO / XINHUA)

Foreign Minister Wang Yi wrapped up a highly successful tour of New Zealand and Australia on Thursday with a private meeting in Sydney with former Labor prime minister Paul Keating after a tight schedule.

Although there were no major announcements analysts say the visit was a further sign of the stabilization of the Australia-China relationship under the Labor government headed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who met Wang on Wednesday.

China’s final decision on lifting its tariffs on wine is due by March 31. In an interim determination last week, the Chinese said the tariffs were no longer necessary

Professor James Laurenceson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI), University of Technology Sydney, said Wang’s trip was significant in that it was the first in seven years.

READ MORE: Wang's NZ trip comes at pivotal time in relations, analysts say

“When it came to the Australia-China relationship specifically, listening to him talk was almost a carbon copy of what our foreign minister (Penny Wong) has been saying,” he told the China Daily.

In a statement released by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday after the seventh China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue in Canberra the same day, Wang said: “The mutual trust between the two sides will increase and China-Australia relations will move forward. 

“This is the value of enhancing communication and the positive process of continuously increasing trust and dispelling misgivings.”

Wang said he hoped the momentum of “good interaction” can be sustained.

Wang’s visit to Australia coincided with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. 

In the statement Wang said: “the ups and downs of the past decade have not only left both sides with lessons to learn from, but also accumulated experience worth cherishing. 

“The most fundamental thing is to uphold mutual respect. China never interferes in Australia's internal affairs and respects the system and path chosen by Australia. Similarly, regarding China's sovereignty, dignity and legitimate concerns, the Chinese side hopes the Australian side will continue to honor the commitments it has made since the establishment of diplomatic relations and respect and properly handle them.”

Science and technology cooperation is another future oriented agenda point, as is the extent to which Australia will follow the lead of the United States in blocking Chinese access to technologies and market

Wang said the most important thing is to pursue “mutual benefit and win-win results”. 

Australia is hoping for an early end to the remaining trade obstacles between the two countries that emerged during the former conservative government.

China’s final decision on lifting its tariffs on wine is due by March 31. In an interim determination last week, the Chinese said the tariffs were no longer necessary.

Australia is still waiting for progress on the restrictions on lobsters and some beef abattoirs.

Professor Hans Hendrischke, Professor of Chinese Business and Management, at the University of Sydney, said Wang’s visit to Australia “will certainly improve Australia’s trade and business position.”

“The improvement of business relations is one of the main purposes of such visits,” he told the China Daily.

The improvement of business relations covers a much wider range of issues related to removing the trade blockages that the press is focusing on, he said. China and Australia need to normalize their investment relations which have deteriorated badly especially since the COVID disruptions. 

“Science and technology cooperation is another future oriented agenda point, as is the extent to which Australia will follow the lead of the United States in blocking Chinese access to technologies and market. 

“Last not least, mutual media access, cultural exchange and easing of visa restrictions are important for improving relations in general,” he said.

Wong said her meeting with Wang was the latest in the process of achieving a “stable relationship” between the two countries.

Wang arrived in Australia after meeting with his New Zealand counterpart Winston Peters and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon.

In a statement released by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday March 18, Wang said: “Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand, despite changes in global and regional situations, bilateral relations have maintained a sound momentum of development and become a factor of stability in the world.”

For Wang Yi’s visit to New Zealand, Jason Young, associate professor of political science and international relations at the Victoria University of Wellington, said it's positive that such a senior minister in China visited the country as part of the normal process and bilateral relations between New Zealand and China.

READ MORE: Wang Yi: China-Australia ties back on track, to move forward

He mentioned that former Prime Minister Chris Hipkins visited China last year. “So it's great to see the high level visits (between the two countries) continue,” he noted.

Professor Young said the New Zealand and China’s ties are quite stable, especially the economic and trade aspects.  “From my perspective, there's a number of different positive aspects about the (bilateral) relationship as New Zealand has a new government.” 

“There have been some challenges over the years, which were made harder because of COVID and less contact between the two sides. But overall, I think it's quite a stable relationship at this moment,” he added.

Xu Weiwei in Hong Kong contributed to the story.

Contact the writer at karlwilson@chinadailyapac.com