Penny Wong meets with top Chinese diplomat

Penny Wong has pushed for faster action on China’s crippling trade sanctions in her second round of talks with one of the Asian powerhouse’s top diplomats.

The foreign minister also raised her ‘deep concerns’ over Hong Kong’s pursuit of overseas pro-democracy activists, including two living in Australia.

Senator Wong, who is in Jakarta for the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, spoke with China’s top-ranking representative Wang Yi on Thursday following a meeting in Beijing late last year.

 The comes ahead of a planned visit by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to China, later this year, the first by an Australian leader since 2016.

‘My view is we’re seeing some progress on trade – we would like to see more,’ she told reporters after the meeting.

China slapped trade sanctions on $20 billion worth of Australian products at the height of a diplomatic spat in 2020, although it has since wound back restrictions on timber and coal imports.

Senator Wong said she had a ‘frank conversation’ with Mr Wang on a number of issues, including the plight of two Australians detained in China and recent bounties Hong Kong police placed on foreign-based activists.

‘The Australian people and the Australian government treasure freedom of expression, freedom of political expression – and the government will continue to support those Australian citizens and those in Australia who exercise their right to freedom of political expression,’ she said.

The foreign minister was asked before the meeting whether she would raise a policing pact signed between China and the Solomon Islands.

She said Australia maintained the view shared by its regional neighbours, that security should be provided by Pacific nations.

‘We are continuing to call for transparency from China and Solomon Islands in relation to this agreement,’ she told the ABC 7.30’s on Thursday.

Wang Yi and Senator Wong discussed trade sanctions imposed on Australia by China

‘I think it is of benefit for the Pacific Islands Forum to discuss it.’

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare jointly announced a comprehensive strategic partnership in Beijing earlier this week.

Beijing has been expanding its influence in the region, with Chinese police present in the Solomon Islands since late 2021.

Senator Wong on Friday said the two had ‘discussed the importance of the institutions, rules and norms that underpin sovereignty, security and prosperity in the region’.

She added: ‘I conveyed Australia’s clear views on security in the Pacific and Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine.’