On March 20, 2024 local time, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the seventh China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Canberra.
Wang Yi said that this is their sixth meeting. Each time they meet, 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 Yi expressed the hope that the momentum of good interaction can be sustained.
Wang Yi said that when President Xi Jinping met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in November 2022, they reached important political consensus on accelerating the improvement of bilateral relations, which charted the course for joint efforts. During Penny Wong's visit to China in December 2022, they proposed that the two sides should "set out on a new journey". Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, China-Australia relations have broken the ice and set sail again, and exchanges and cooperation in various fields have gradually resumed.
Wang Yi said that his visit to Australia coincides with the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's successful state visit to Australia and the establishment of the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. It is an important year for the two sides to build on what has been achieved and chart the way forward. The two sides should build on the sound momentum of bilateral relations so far, "work together for the future", and take a more active attitude to jointly build a more mature, stable and fruitful comprehensive strategic partnership.
Wang Yi 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.
The most crucial thing is to stay committed to seeking common ground while shelving differences. China and Australia differ in many aspects because of their different social systems, histories and cultures. But the common interests between the two countries far outweigh the differences. The two sides should face up to their differences, and manage and rise above the differences.
The most important thing is to pursue mutual benefit and win-win results. China and Australia have highly complementary economies and huge potential for cooperation. Last year, bilateral trade bucked the overall downward trend, with nearly 80 percent of Australia's foreign trade surplus coming from trade with China. The right approach is that both sides should strive to make the pie of common interests bigger and provide a sound business environment for the investment and operation of enterprises from the two countries.
The most precious thing is to remain independent. China always pursues an independent foreign policy of peace, and its policy towards Australia is consistent. Independence should also be an important principle of Australia's foreign policy. The development of China-Australia relations does not target any third party, nor should it be influenced or disturbed by any third party.
Wang Yi stressed that since China-Australia relations are back on the right track, both sides should have no hesitation, no yawing and no backward steps. Since the course forward has been charted, both sides should strive to make steady, good and sustained progress. This serves the common interests of the two peoples and also meets the common expectation of countries in the region.