Sarah Ferguson presents Australia's premier daily current affairs program, delivering agenda-setting public affairs journalism and interviews that hold the powerful to account. Plus political analysis from Laura Tingle.
SARAH FERGUSON: Now Wang Yi, as we know, is a highly experienced, trusted figure of the Chinese Government so what is the significance of him coming to Australia today?
All of that was discussed. The sharpest criticism from Australian though was in relation to Yang Hengjun, the Australian citizen who has recently been sentenced, received the death sentence, set to be commuted after two years of good behaviour, but Penny Wong told her counterpart that Australians were shocked about this.
Penny Wong went ahead with the press conference and did the three plus three as it’s called - three from each side, the Chinese and Australian side - but no, we didn't get to hear the Wang Yi's view of those issues around Yang Hengjun or any of the other concerns raised today. There has been plenty of commentary around all of this this and the former prime minister himself has been quite critical of those criticising the fact that he's having this meeting, but I don't think that overshadowed the various meetings that the Wang Yi held here today.
And this was always a potential risk in appointing Kevin Rudd as ambassador. He had been quite critical before his appointment of Donald Trump. He labelled him back when he was a very active social media user, Kevin Rudd, he labelled Donald Trump the most destructive president in history. He said he drags America and democracy through the mud.
He has been trying build ties with Republicans in Congress, but the Republican that really counts is Donald Trump. He has enormous control over the party.
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