The reporter learned from the Ministry of Commerce on the 6th, the Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao was invited to hold video talks with Australian Trade Minister Farrell on the same day. Wang Wentao said that China is willing to restart the economic and trade exchange mechanism with the Australian side; expand the cooperation space in emerging areas such as gas change and new energy, and promote the high-quality development of economic and trade relations between the two countries.
The two sides had professional, pragmatic and frank exchanges on implementing the important consensus of the two leaders' meeting in Bali, Indonesia, properly handling each other's key economic and trade concerns, and planning the development of the next phase of China-Australia economic and trade relations. Wang pointed out that China and Australia are important economic and trade partners, their economic structures are highly complementary and bilateral economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial and win-win. At present, the two countries are facing an important window of economic and trade relations, and both sides should work together to inject more positive factors into economic and trade cooperation. This meeting is an important step for both sides to jointly promote China-Australia economic and trade relations to get back on track.
Wang Wentao said that China's open door will only get wider and wider. A developing and continuously open China will bring more opportunities for all countries in the world, including Australia. At the next stage, both sides should follow the direction indicated in the meeting between the two leaders, move in the same direction, strengthen communication and coordination in the economic and trade fields, and find mutually beneficial and win-win solutions to issues of concern to each side. China is highly concerned about Australia's tightened security review of Chinese enterprises' investment and operation in Australia and hopes that the Australian side will properly handle the relevant cases and provide Chinese enterprises with a fair, open and non-discriminatory business environment. Wang invited Farrell to visit China at an appropriate time.
China is Australia's largest trading partner and an important source of investment, and trade and investment are important cornerstones of the bilateral relationship. Australia welcomes high-quality investment from various countries, including China, and looks forward to further expanding cooperation with China in areas such as gas-to-energy and renewable energy. Australia and China both support a rules-based multilateral trading system. Australia is willing to work with China to enhance mutual trust and resolve differences through frank dialogue for the benefit of both peoples. Mr Farrell looks forward to visiting China in the near future.
Both sides agreed to continue to maintain communication and tasked their working teams to conduct specific discussions on issues of mutual concern and arrangements for bilateral economic and trade exchange mechanisms.