On September 22, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the sidelines of the general debate of the UNGA 77 in New York.
Wang Yi said that when we met in Bali two months ago, both sides emphasized the importance of China-Australia relations, reaffirmed the positioning of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, and both believed that the bilateral relations should be brought back to the right track as soon as possible in the spirit of mutual respect.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and Australia. After half a century of trials and hardships, the relationship between the two countries should become more mature, stable, and no accident. This serves the interests of both sides and is also the expectation of the two peoples. China is willing to conscientiously summarize and sort out experience with the Australia, properly resolve differences, and promote the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations.
Penny Wong said that Australia is willing to develop a stable, mutually beneficial, and productive relationship with China on the basis of mutual respect.
Australia is willing to take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity, with a calm and forward-looking attitude, to communicate candidly with China, carry out constructive exchanges, and advance the Australia-China comprehensive strategic partnership.
Australia respects the international legal system based on the UN Charter, and also adheres to the one-China policy and does not support "Taiwan independence". Australia-China trade has benefited both sides and hopes to maintain an open international trade system.
Wang Yi expressed that China appreciates Australia's reaffirmation of its adherence to the one-China policy. The two sides should meet each other halfway, use more positive thinking, release more positive signals, tell more stories of win-win cooperation, and carry out more people-to-people and local exchanges, to create a good atmosphere for the sound development of China-Australia relations.
Wang Yi emphasized that China firmly supports trade liberalization and facilitation and is committed to building a higher-level open economic system and building an open world economy. All parties should carry forward the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, abide by international law and basic norms governing international relations, and play the core role of the UN.
Wang Yi also expounded China's principled position on issues such as Ukraine, the South China Sea and Xinjiang-related issues.
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