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Australia's foreign minister, Penny Wong, has used her first meeting with the new Chinese Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, to once again press Beijing to relax trade restrictions and use its influence over Russia to bring the war in Ukraine to a close.
Key points:
- Foreign ministers gathered at the G20 fail to agree on a joint communique over the Ukraine war
- Senator Wong says she discussed trade, human rights, consular matters and Russia's invasion of Ukraine with her Chinese counterpart
- Deep tensions over the war in Ukraine emerged at the G20 meeting
The foreign minister met Mr Qin on the sidelines of an often-combative G20 Foreign Ministers meeting in New Delhi on Thursday.
Senator Wong told reporters that Australia and China could "continue to grow our bilateral relationship while safeguarding our national interests" but only "if we both navigate our differences wisely".
She said she and her Chinese counterpart had discussed a host of issues, "including trade, human rights and consular matters, as well as Russia's invasion of Ukraine".
"We know that trade impediments exist, and … we've expressed the view that it would be in both countries interests for those trade impediments to be removed," she said.
"And, while I'm not going to go into chapter and verse, you should anticipate that what I said in the meeting was consistent with what I have said publicly."
This G20 meeting was marred by deep tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling the military assault "unprovoked and unjustified".
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responding by accusing Western countries of "blackmail and threats."
The foreign ministers failed to agree on a joint communique, with India's Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar saying there were "divergences … which couldn't be reconciled" over the Ukraine war.
Wong says all countries against arms supply to Russia
Senator Wong indicated she used the meeting to press Mr Qin to bring more pressure to bear on Russia.
"I've previously said that the world does look to China for its responsible leadership when it comes to Ukraine, particularly given its close relationship with Russia," she said.
The United States has publicly warned that it has intelligence indicating China is contemplating providing military equipment and weaponry to Russia to help its war effort.
Earlier this week, Mr Blinken told China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, there would be "serious consequences" if Beijing sent weapons to Russia, while the European Union has declared it would represent a "red line".
Senator Wong didn't use similar language, but told journalists in New Delhi that Australia's position was clear.
"I would note that [Ukraine's] President Zelenskyy himself has said he wants to believe that China will do the right thing and not supply weapons to Russia," Senator Wong said.
"And that is not only Australia's call, but the call of all countries."