China-Australia relations: envoy’s rock lobster visit raises hopes of further easing of trade bans
- Long Dingbin, China’s envoy at its Perth consulate, visited the world’s largest exporter of Australian rock lobsters after reports an unofficial ban on coal will be lifted
- Visit took place on the same day Beijing’s ambassador said that China and Australia will ‘come back to a normal kind of relationship’ amid an easing of tensions
A visit by China’s most senior diplomat in Western Australia to the world’s largest exporter of Australian rock lobsters this week has raised hopes that Beijing will also lift its unofficial ban on seafood imports after coal was seemingly the first to benefit from the easing of political and trade tensions with Canberra.
I believe that there will be further development between the two countries with efforts being made by both sides
“I believe that there will be further development between the two countries with efforts being made by both sides, and the Geraldton Fishermen’s Cooperative will play a bigger role for the fishery industry of both nations,” Long said, according to the consulates official WeChat account.
Long added that he hoped the cooperative would cement its confidence on working with China through utilising platforms including the international import and export expos.
Last week, it was reported that China’s state planner, the National Development and Reform Commission, had held talks with four state-owned importers over a partial lifting of the verbal ban on Australian coal.