Earlier this month, Australian trade minister Don Farrell visited Beijing where he met his counterpart, commerce minister Wang Wentao.
Like Farrell and Wang, Marles and Li also discussed the progress of China’s lifting of restrictions on exports from Australia.
After imposing informal bans on seven products from Australia in 2020 and 2021 as well as anti-dumping duties on Australian wine and barley, China recently lifted restrictions on timber and coal.
Beijing is also in the midst of reviewing the barley anti-dumping issue outside the World Trade Organization dispute settlement system.
In more promising signs, both Marles and Li discussed the resumption of the Defence Strategic Dialogue, close on the heels of the recently resumed defence coordination dialogue in Canberra in March.
Marles also spoke to Li about Australia’s commitment to supporting peace, stability and security in the Indo-Pacific and reiterated the importance of safe interactions in the air and sea in the region.
Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles, centre, arrives meetings on the sidelines of the Shangri-la Dialogue. Photo: EPA-EFE
He also reaffirmed Canberra’s commitment to the Treaty for the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
Earlier, in a separate interview, Marles sought to project the Aukus security alliance as a transparent initiative that contributes to the stability of the region but took aim at China for not being open about its nuclear and military expansion.
In addition, Marles raised the ongoing detention of Australian citizens, and human rights issues with Li. Journalist Cheng Lei and writer Yang Hengjun are among the Australians detained in China.
