“China is ready to advance relations with Australia based on mutual respect, win-win principles,” Xi said in a message distributed by Chinese state media.

Xi’s comments are boilerplate, but they left the unmistakable impression that a push for a revival is coming from the very top. They are similar to remarks that have been made by Xi to other leaders this year as China celebrated its 50th anniversary with dozens of other countries.

“China is clearly making nice with a lot of countries around the world,” said James Curran, a professor of Chinese history and politics at the University of Sydney.

“The question is: why is China changing on Australia now? I would say there is a hard-headed judgment that’s been made in Beijing that the stability of Australian supply of our natural resources, iron ore, in particular, is absolutely critical to their post-COVID recovery.”

China is symbolic but not sentimental. Its economy is being battered by the pandemic, so it embraced the natural reset opportunities presented to it – the election and the anniversary – to start a dialogue with a government that showed less of an interest in making the “China threat” narrative into a domestic political victory.

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In office, the Coalition made decisions needed on national security, such as blocking Huawei and implementing foreign interference legislation. Wong landed in Beijing with her hand strengthened because of them.

None have had to be sacrificed for the meeting to occur, but the tone has changed because Labor has yet to make difficult decisions on China and because it deliberately moderated its approach to get the dialogue flowing again.

The results are already starting to show in the business sector. Australian lobster farmers and winemakers are seeing investment inquiries from Chinese importers. The Chinese General Administration of Customs is now suddenly promoting Australian lobsters, once left stranded and dying on airport tarmacs, as “widely enjoyed by our consumers”.

“It is another sign that the relationship is being stabilised,” said Curran. “But no one is under any illusion that we’re going back to the sunlit uplands of engagement, pre-2017. Wong is going into it with very open eyes, knowing that there’ll be problems ahead, knowing that there’ll be no quick fix.”

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Albanese’s diary minders will be pencilling in October 31, 2023, for his first visit to Beijing. Before that, Australian officials will be busy getting their background on Xi’s protege, Li Qiang, the former Shanghai party secretary expected to become premier when Li retires. It will be vital for Australia to develop a relationship with the man who is much closer to Xi than Li ever was, particularly when the Chinese premier has historically had a more frequent dialogue with Australian leaders than the president.

The timeline also offers hope for Yang and Cheng, a father and a mother who have been away from their children for too many Christmases and birthdays.

It is unlikely that Albanese would fly to Beijing while they were in jail.

Their release would expose China’s cynical use of hostage diplomacy. Cheng and Yang’s families would not care. They would have them home.

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