As planned, the meeting linked Commerce Ministers Wang Wentao and Don Farrell via videoconference, with the officials agreeing on the need to expand communication with a view to fully normalizing commercial exchange.

The Chinese minister invited his counterpart to visit Beijing to discuss concerns of both parties face to face in an “open and candid” manner, and expressed confidence that this contact would help relax ties even if it do not solve all the problems at once. He also urged in finding common grounds and keeping priority on regaining mutual trust.

On the other hand,Farrell called on China to lift restrictions on Australian exports of wine, coal, beef, barley, medra and shellfish because they cost local businesses $14 billion a year in losses.

He also spoke with Wang about investments and the relevance of restoring trade between the two countries without hindrance.

The contact between the two ministers followed Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong’s visit late last year and the face-to-face talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

jrr/llp/jf/ymr