This week marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and the People’s Republic of China.
In 1972, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam established diplomatic relations with mainland China soon after coming to power. Prime Minister Whitlam’s 1973 diplomatic trip was the first visit to China by an Australian Prime Minister and was seen as a milestone in Australia–China relations.
In the decades since, China has grown to become one of the world’s largest economies and Australia’s largest trading partner, despite trade and diplomatic tensions in recent years.
Following recent meeting between newly elected Prime Minister Albanese and President Xi in Bali on the sidelines of the G20 Summit, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has travelled to Beijing at the invitation of the People’s Republic of China to meet China’s State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Wang Yi, and hold the 6th Australia–China Foreign and Strategic Dialogue. This Dialogue was last held in 2018.
The meeting will coincide with the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations, today on Wednesday 21 December.
