Visit to Shanghai for International Import Expo is first high-level ministerial trip in over a yearTwo countries have been at loggerheads amid fears of China’s influence over Australian media, universities and politics
Australia’s trade minister will travel to China on Sunday, in a sign that political tensions between the two countries may be easing.
Simon Birmingham, the first senior Australian government official to visit China in a year, will attend the China International Import Expo, or CIEE, seen as an attempt by Beijing to allay foreign concern about its trade practices.
Relations between Australia and the world’s number two economy have been at low ebb over accusations of China’s influence in Australia’s media, universities and politics and its use of loans to build leverage over poorer South Pacific island nations.
In August, Australia banned Huawei from supplying equipment for a 5G mobile network citing national security risks, a move the Chinese telecoms gear maker criticised as being “politically motivated”.
