Australian Foreign Minister to Visit China
Beijing (ANTARA) - Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong will visit China on 28-30 April 2026 to maintain the momentum of growing relations between the two countries and to discuss regional issues.
“During the visit, Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Foreign Minister Penny Wong will jointly lead the eighth Foreign and Strategic Dialogue, and they will also engage in in-depth discussions on bilateral relations and international and regional issues,” said Spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lin Jian at a press conference in Beijing on Monday (27/4).
China and Australia established diplomatic relations in 1972, and in 2014, the two countries agreed to establish a “Comprehensive Strategic Partnership”. The last visit by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to China was in July 2025.
“Through this visit, China hopes to further realise the important common understanding between the leaders of the two countries, enhance political mutual trust, and deepen mutually beneficial cooperation,” added Lin Jian.
He also stated that China continues to promote the stable, sound, sustainable development of China-Australia relations and to bring more benefits to the two peoples.
Australia adheres to the “One China” policy, thus not recognising Taiwan, but Australia often raises various human rights issues in China, including freedom of expression, religion, treatment of political prisoners and ethnic minorities (including in Xinjiang and Tibet), as well as civil rights activists.
In terms of economic relations, China is Australia’s largest two-way trading partner, contributing 24% of goods and services trade in 2024-2025, with a total value of US$309 billion. Australia’s exports of goods and services to China reached US$189 billion in 2024-2025, or 29% of Australia’s total goods and services exports.
China and Australia have also had the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement (ChAFTA) since 20 December 2015.
China also ranks as the eighth largest foreign investor in Australia, with foreign investment value of US$36 billion at the end of 2024, targeting investments in the mining, infrastructure, and health sectors. Meanwhile, the value of Australian investment in China is US$2 billion at the end of 2024.
Australia also remains one of the popular destinations for Chinese students wishing to study abroad. China continues to be the largest source of international students for Australia.
However, Australia has a trilateral security pact with the United Kingdom and the United States called AUKUS since 15 September 2021.
Under the pact, the US and UK will assist Australia in developing and deploying Virginia-class nuclear-powered submarines, in addition to deploying Western military forces in the Pacific region.
Australia will purchase three second-hand Virginia-class submarines from the US starting in 2032, with an option to buy two more. After that, the plan is to design and build a completely new nuclear-powered submarine model for the Royal Navy and the Royal Australian Navy. The deal itself is valued at US$239 billion.
The government has long opposed AUKUS and the development of nuclear-powered submarines in the Pacific region.