Chinese foreign minister meets his Australian counterpart in Beijing

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said she addressed human rights issues and the release of two citizens held in China during the first visit to Beijing by a top diplomat from Canberra in four years.

The trip is a sign of thawing relations between China and Australia after years of tension over multiple issues, notably Chinese influence operations overseas, Beijing's actions in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet, and trade.

Wong met with Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, in a trip touted by China as an opportunity to push bilateral relations "back on track."

China's Foreign Minister Wang said Beijing appreciated the "willingness of the new Australian government to improve and develop bilateral relations", according to a state media readout of the meeting that did not touch on any of the sensitive topics raised by Wong.

"Of course, we discussed Ms Cheng Lei and Dr Yang," Wong said, referring to two Australians who have been imprisoned for years by Chinese authorities.

Australian journalist Cheng Lei was detained by Chinese authorities in August 2020, and Chinese-born Australian Yang Jun was detained in January 2019, with both accused of spying.

She said she also expressed Australia's "principled view about the observance and respect for human rights, and that applies in terms of our views about Xinjiang or Tibet or Hong Kong."

There was also discussion of "how we might do what I think is in the best interests of both countries and consumers in both countries... and that is for the trade blockages to be removed," Wong said.