Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong has detailed what topics she spoke to her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi about during their 'short' but 'constructive' meeting in New York City.
Senator Wong - who is in New York for the United Nations General Assembly with other world ministers and officials - held a number of face-to-face meetings with delegations from other countries about collaboration and in"support of multilateralism".
She met with representatives from Mexico, Indonesia, South Korea, Turkey, Solomon Islands, Fiji, the United Kingdom and China in what she described as a"productive" day. Stream more on politics with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in New York where they discussed a range of topics concerning their nations. Picture: Sky News One of the first issues the Foreign Minister raised to Mr Wang was the trade sanctions preventing Australian products from being imported into China. Beijing slapped billions of dollars worth of restrictions on a number of products, such as beef, wine, barley and coal to name a few, when former prime minister Scott Morrison led calls for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. A reporter questioned Senator Wong whether the grievances Beijing had against Canberra"might have changed" in light of the meeting between the two ministers."That is the issue I focused on in the outset. I think that is the one Australian people would anticipate." Senator Wong revealed she spoke to Mr Wang about China's trade sanctions on Australia, the Ukraine war, Taiwan, and Cheng Lei. Picture: Sky News Another topic floated was the Russia and Ukraine war, in which, China, has largely remained quiet in condemning Russia due to their alliance. But Beijing quickly stressed for a"ceasefire through dialogue and consultation" on Thursday - hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened a nuclear response in the Ukraine invasion during an address to his nation. "China's position on the Ukraine crisis is consistent and clear," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a daily press conference. Senator Wong was posed if she would like to see Beijing"more assertive in being critical, given the so-called no limits friendship" between Russia and China. She refused to divulge what she told Mr Wang during their meeting but reiterated previous comments she had made. "Which is, and I will make those again, that China is a great power, a P5 member, China has like all of us, signed up to the UN Charter," Senator Wong said. "We believe as does every country come with the exception of Russia, that Russia is in breach of UN Charter with the illegal invasion of Ukraine "We encourage China as a P5 member with a special responsibility to uphold the UN Charter and use its influence to wind the war." The Foreign Minister was asked if it was responsible for the Albanese Government to continue its military support given the fresh warning from President Putin. Senator Wong insisted the Russian leader cannot allow his"irresponsible threats" to achieve a deadly outcome in the war, which has already killed thousands of people. But she remained coy when a reporter wondered if the convening of the ministers meant there was a"shift in tone"."I think it was another constructive meeting. I think it is a long road on which many steps will have to be taken by both parties to a more stable relationship," Senator Wong said. Senator Wong also raised concerns about Cheng Lei, a Chinese-born Australian journalist who was detained in Beijing accused of"supplying state secrets overseas". Picture: SuppliedSenator Wong reiterated her position on Taiwan remained the same and her public comments supporting the island nation had not changed. "It is in all our interests to have a region at peace and not in conflict," she said in a statement on August 5 after ballistic missiles were launched by China. "Australia does not want to see any unilateral change to the status quo across the Taiwan Strait. There is no change to Australia's bipartisan one-China policy.", who was arrested and put behind bars in February 2021 after she was charged with"supplying state secrets overseas". "I did raise a number of consular cases, the practice of every Australian official that engages with China," Senator Wong said but failed to delve further.
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