Chinese ambassador begins Australia posting, says took bus to work
Chinese ambassador Liu Jinsong said he had taken a public bus in Australia and spoke with “ordinary” people on his way to his new posting in the capital Canberra. Liu arrived in Australia on Monday, saying in a statement on the embassy website that he felt “both honoured and deeply conscious of the responsibility”. He […]
Liu Jinsong, China's new ambassador to Australia, began his posting in the nation's capital, Canberra, by taking a public bus from Sydney to his new residence. The diplomat, who arrived in Australia on Monday, expressed his feelings of honor and the weight of responsibility in a statement on the embassy website. Upon reaching Canberra, Liu engaged in conversation with "ordinary Australians on board," thoroughly enjoying the experience.
The improvement in relations between China and Australia under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who has visited Beijing twice since taking office in 2022, comes after a period of significant tension. These strained relations under former Prime Minister Scott Morrison were marked by China imposing import bans and restrictions on Australian commodities like coal, barley, and wine.
Additionally, issues such as Australia's legislation against overseas influence operations, its ban on Huawei from 5G contracts, and its call for an independent investigation into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic further exacerbated the situation.
Despite these challenges, Liu emphasized on his first day that both countries should respect each other's core interests and major concerns, highlighting the complementary nature of their economies and cultures. He replaces Xiao Qian, a diplomat known for sometimes fiery rhetoric advocating for the party line. Previously, Xiao Qian held high-profile negotiations with Japanese officials amid a diplomatic row over Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's comments on Taiwan.
Written by urgent.news from Hong Kong Free Press - China's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
