Beijing defends import restrictions on Australian goods
CGTN
00:48

Inspection and quarantine work of Chinese customs on seafood imports are in line with Chinese laws and aimed to guarantee food safety for domestic consumers, said the Foreign Ministry on Monday.

Wang Wenbin, a spokesperson from the ministry, made the remarks when he responded to reports that the country has delayed customs checks of some Australian lobsters imports.

"This is done to not only implement the relevant national laws and regulations, but also to ensure the safety of Chinese consumers of imported goods," Wang said at a press conference. 

China has always insisted on developing friendly and cooperative relations with other countries on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, Wang stressed. 

"We always believe that a healthy and stable China-Australia relationship is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples," he added.

The spokesperson also confirmed that Beijing had halted timber shipments from Queensland after China has repeatedly found bio-hazards in these goods.

He said the measures were taken to protect China's forests against harmful substances.

China hopes that Australia will take effective measures to strengthen quarantine works and ensure that the exported logs can meet China's quarantine requirements, Wang added.