On April 29, 2026, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held the eighth China-Australia Foreign and Strategic Dialogue with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong in Beijing.

Wang Yi said that President Xi Jinping’s strategic communication with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese last year has injected new impetus into bilateral relations. The foreign ministries of the two countries have jointly made positive efforts in recent years to facilitate the turnaround and sound development of China-Australia relations. The Foreign and Strategic Dialogue has played a constructive role in enhancing mutual trust, narrowing differences and promoting cooperation. The current international landscape is undergoing profound changes and turbulence, with destabilizing and uncertain factors rising to an unprecedented level. China stands ready to work with Australia to implement the important common understandings reached between the two leaders, strengthen communication and coordination, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, consolidate the upward momentum of bilateral relations, fully deliver on the positioning of the comprehensive strategic partnership, and bring greater certainty to the region and the world.

Wang Yi stated that China and Australia should maintain high-level exchanges, deepen strategic mutual trust, expand areas of cooperation, and continuously add positive elements to bilateral relations. People-to-people exchanges between the two countries serve the interests of both sides. The two governments should do more to enhance mutual understanding. It is hoped that Australia will effectively safeguard the safety and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese personnel. China’s friendly cooperation with Pacific island countries follows the principles of mutual respect and equality, commits itself to boosting the development of island countries, and does not target any third party. Australia should view such cooperation in an objective and rational manner. As the rotating chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), China is ready to strengthen cooperation with all parties including Australia, revitalize the process of the Asia-Pacific Community, and make greater contributions to Asia-Pacific cooperation.

Wang Yi noted that the world is undergoing profound changes unseen in a century. Unilateralism and hegemonism are resurging, putting humanity at a critical crossroads between unilateralism and multilateralism, dialogue and confrontation, peace and war. Amidst the evolving and volatile situation, China has always advocated and practiced multilateralism, and firmly upheld the international system with the United Nations at its core. President Xi Jinping has put forward four major global initiatives and the vision of building a community with a shared future for humanity, which respond to the call of all countries in the world, serve the overall interests of humanity, and represent the right way forward for the world. China and Australia should jointly stand firmly on the right side of history and on the side of multilateralism, jointly safeguard the global free trade system and the stable and smooth operation of industrial and supply chains, play a constructive role in the political settlement of hotspot issues, and advance the development of a more just and equitable global governance system.

Wang Yi elaborated on China’s position on the Taiwan question, stressing that no one will ever be allowed to split Taiwan from China. The key to maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait lies in resolutely opposing “Taiwan independence”.

Penny Wong said she was pleased to pay her third visit to China as Foreign Minister and hold a new round of Australia-China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue. Australia is committed to developing relations with China, and is ready to conduct candid communication with China, enhance mutual understanding, strengthen cooperation, and properly handle differences. Australia adheres to the one-China policy, does not support “Taiwan independence”, and hopes for a peaceful settlement of the Taiwan question. The economies of Australia and China are highly complementary. Closer cooperation in economy, trade and other fields is conducive to the respective national development of the two countries and serves the shared interests. Australia actively supports China in hosting the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. Pacific island countries are not the backyard of any country, and Australia does not exclude any country from conducting cooperation for the development of the island countries. As a major country in the world, China plays an indispensable role in resolving international hotspot issues. Australia does not endorse an unreasonable international system dominated by power hierarchy, and is ready to work with China to uphold international rules, ensure energy security, and promote world peace, stability and prosperity.

The two sides also exchanged views on the situation in the Middle East and other issues.