Beijing (ANTARA) - Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi invited\nAustralian Foreign Minister Penny Wong to support multilateralism during\nthe eighth round of the China-Australia Diplomatic and Strategic\nDialogue in Beijing on Wednesday (29\/4).<\/p>\n
\u201cChina and Australia should stand on the right side of history and\nthe side of multilateralism, jointly safeguard the global free trade\nsystem as well as the stability and smoothness of industrial and supply\nchains, play a constructive role in the political settlement of\ninternational hotspot issues, and promote the establishment of a fairer\nand more rational global governance system,\u201d Foreign Minister Wang Yi\nsaid in a written statement on the website of China\u2019s Ministry of\nForeign Affairs, accessed by ANTARA on Thursday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn recent years, the foreign ministries of the two countries have\njointly made positive efforts to promote the recovery and development of\nChina-Australia relations in a better direction. The diplomatic\nstrategic dialogue has played an active role in enhancing mutual trust,\nreducing differences, and promoting cooperation,\u201d Wang Yi added.<\/p>\n
At present, the international situation is filled with interconnected\nchanges and turmoil, with unprecedentedly increasing factors of\ninstability and uncertainty.<\/p>\n
China, Wang Yi revealed, is willing to work with the Australian side\nto implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two\ncountries, strengthen communication and coordination, deepen mutually\nbeneficial cooperation, consolidate the positive momentum of bilateral\nrelations, and truly realise the comprehensive strategic partnership to\nprovide certainty for the region and the world.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople-to-people exchanges between China and Australia also align\nwith the interests of both sides, and the governments of the two\ncountries need to do more beneficial things to enhance mutual\nunderstanding. We hope that Australia will practically guarantee the\nsafety as well as the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese\ncitizens,\u201d Wang Yi stated.<\/p>\n
In addition, Wang Yi noted that cooperation between China and Pacific\nisland countries, which are Australia\u2019s closest neighbours, adheres to\nthe principles of mutual respect and equality, and aims to promote the\ndevelopment of those countries, without targeting any third party.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia should view this objectively and rationally,\u201d Wang Yi\nadded.<\/p>\n
Then, as the rotating chair of APEC, China will work with all\nparties, including Australia, to reactivate and revitalise the\nAsia-Pacific community process and make greater contributions to\nregional cooperation.<\/p>\n
Wang Yi also elaborated in depth on China\u2019s position on the Taiwan\nissue, emphasising that no one will ever be allowed to separate Taiwan\nfrom China.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe key to maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait is\nto firmly oppose \u2018Taiwan independence\u2019,\u201d Wang Yi stated.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, Penny Wong stated that Australia is committed to\ndeveloping relations with China and is willing to communicate openly,\nenhance understanding, strengthen cooperation, and properly handle\ndifferences.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia adheres to the one-China policy, does not support \u2018Taiwan\nindependence\u2019, and hopes that the Taiwan issue can be resolved\npeacefully,\u201d said Foreign Minister Penny.<\/p>\n
She also noted that the economies of Australia and China are highly\ncomplementary, and close cooperation in trade and other sectors benefits\nthe development of both countries and aligns with common interests.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia actively supports China as the host of the Informal\nLeaders\u2019 Meeting of APEC. Pacific island countries are also not anyone\u2019s\n\u2018backyard\u2019, so we do not reject any country from cooperating to support\nthe development of those countries,\u201d Foreign Minister Penny\nexplained.<\/p>\n
As a major world power, Penny said China plays an irreplaceable role\nin resolving important international issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cAustralia does not support the formation of an unfair international\nsystem based on domination and subordination, and is willing to work\nwith China to uphold international rules, ensure energy security, and\npromote world peace, stability, and prosperity,\u201d it was stated.<\/p>\n
Foreign Ministers Wang Yi and Penny Wong also discussed the situation\nin the Middle East and other issues.<\/p>\n
China is known as Australia\u2019s largest two-way trading partner,\ncontributing 24 percent of goods and services trade in 2024-2025 with a\ntotal value of 309 billion US dollars. Australia\u2019s goods and services\nexports to China reached 189 billion US dollars in 2024-2025, or 29\npercent of Australia\u2019s goods and services exports.<\/p>\n
China also ranks as the eighth largest foreign investor in Australia\nwith a foreign investment value of 36 billion US dollars at the end of\n2024, targeting investments in the mining, infrastructure, and health\nsectors. Meanwhile, the value of Australian investment in China is 2\nbillion US dollars at the end of 2024.<\/p>\n
Australia also remains one of the popular destinations for Chinese\nstudents wishing to study abroad. China continues to be the largest\nsource of international students for Australia.<\/p>\n
However, Australia has a trilateral security pact with the United\nKingdom and the United States called AUKUS since 15 September 2021.<\/p>\n
Under the pact, the US and UK will assist Australia in developing and\ndeploying nuclear-powered Virginia-class submarines, in addition to\ndeploying Western military forces in the Pacific region.<\/p>\n
The Chinese government has long opposed AUKUS and the development of\nnuclear-powered submarines in the Pacific region.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/china-invites-australia-to-strengthen-global-multilateralism-1777521280", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }