Australian PM to visit China in effort believed to mend ties

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Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said in Queensland on Thursday that he expected to visit China later this year to warm up bilateral ties, Australian media reported.

"We have a very close relationship at every level – economic, cultural, family, social – it's a very strong relationship," Turnbull said.

ABC reported Turnbull also mentioned that two of his own grandchildren were among the one million Australians who have Chinese heritage, in an attempt to bring more amity to the relationship between the two countries.

Malcolm Turnbull's last visit to China was during the G20 Summit in Hangzhou in September 2016. /VCG Photo

In addition, Turnbull said Foreign Minister Julie Bishop would be "seeing her counterpart next week", suggesting a possible meeting between Bishop and Chinese State Counselor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi at the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Argentina.

The China-Australia relations haven't been smooth ever since Turnbull took office, as Turnbull and his foreign minister Bishop remain vocal on affairs such as the South China Sea issue, criticizing China's activities in that area. The remarks have been met with rebukes from China, saying Australia should not meddle with the South China Sea issue as a non-stakeholder.

The Turnbull administration has repeatedly criticized China's construction work in the South China Sea and ran surveillance flights over the area. /Xinhua Photo

At the end of last year, the relations between the two countries took a noticeable downturn, when the Australian government proposed legislation to ban foreign interference in Australian politics, singling out China as a focus of concern.

In response, China lodged a strong protest against the Australian government. "We are quite shocked at relevant remarks of Australian leaders," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang told a regular briefing in December 2017. "It is full of prejudices against China and it is creating something out of thin air."

Geng called on Canberra to "immediately stop making wrong remarks that will undermine political trust and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Australia".

Almost around the same time, reports about some Chinese students in Australia falling victim to abuse and harassment by locals emerged.

Turnbull's latest announcement coincides with the speech given by visiting Australian Trade Minister Steven Ciobo in Shanghai.

At a business dinner on Thursday, Ciobo reiterated the importance of the trade relationship with China, praised it as "one of the true global giants", and spoke in support of China's Belt and Road Initiative.

Australian Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment, Steven Ciobo, attends a news conference of an Australian Football League event in Shanghai, China, May 17, 2018. /Reuters Photo

It is believed that the cooling diplomatic ties have raised concerns in the Australian business sector, as China is one of Australia's top trading partners.

According to the Guardian, Ciobo's office is trying to help Australian wine maker Treasury Wine get its products to Chinese customs at a time when the procedure was said to get delayed due to a Chinese regulation.

Statistics from General Administration of Customs show China's imports from Australia reached 642.85 billion yuan (102 billion US dollars) in 2017, benefiting big names such as miners Rio Tinto and BHP Billiton.

Smaller firms including food and beverage makers have also profited from China's rising demand.