China Extends Olive Branch to Australia, Lifts Trade Ban on Timber Imports
The Chinese government has expressed its willingness to host Anthony Albanese in Beijing and lift the trade ban on $600 million worth of Australian imports, signaling a thaw in the previously frosty relationship between the two countries. This comes after China cited quarantine risks as the reason for stopping Australian timber imports in 2020, alongside restrictions on Australian wine, barley, beef, and coal. The Australian government believes this was a calculated attempt at economic coercion.
Albanese is set to meet with the leaders of the world’s seven richest economies in Hiroshima, including US President Joe Biden and his fellow Quad leaders. Biden rejected claims that his inability to travel to Australia for the planned Quad summit was a publicity win for China, stating that “America is not a deadbeat nation.”
The G7 summit will discuss nuclear weapons, China’s economic coercion, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and managing the rapid growth of artificial intelligence technology. China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, welcomed the removal of the trade ban on Australian timber imports and said that efforts to repair relations between Australia and China were beginning to pay off.
Xiao also criticized the Quad grouping of Australia, the United States, Japan, and India as a “rich man’s club” and said that targeting China as a threat was unfounded and unnecessary. Despite this, he expressed his willingness to welcome Albanese to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping at a time of mutual convenience for both leaders.
Trade Minister Don Farrell, who recently traveled to Beijing for meetings with China’s commerce minister, said that the removal of the timber import ban was “a great outcome for the Australian forestry sector” and that any step towards resolving trade impediments was welcome.
In conclusion, while tensions between China and Australia have been high in recent years, there are signs of a thaw in the relationship. The lifting of the trade ban on Australian timber imports is a positive step towards resolving trade impediments, and China’s willingness to host Albanese in Beijing is a sign of its desire to repair relations with Australia. As both countries continue to navigate their complex relationship, it is important to maintain open channels of communication and work towards mutual understanding and cooperation.
Source: smh.com.au
