China suspends economic accord with Australia

China has indefinitely suspended all activities falling under the “Australia and China strategic economic dialogue”.

Australia’s strained relationship with China has gone from bad to worse… with Beijing cutting all diplomatic contact with Canberra under the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue.

It’s set to make repairing diplomatic relations between the two countries even more difficult

The National Development and Reform Commission released a statement.. saying some Australian Government officials had launched a series of measures to disrupt the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia … describing it as a Cold War mindset.

Relations between the two countries deteriorated last year when Australia called for an international inquiry into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic

Tensions escalated further when the Federal Government cancelled two deals struck by the state of Victoria with China as part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

Australia’s Trade Minister says he is disappointed that China has suspended the Strategic Economic Dialogue. 

Dan Tehan says Australia remains open to holding the dialogue and engaging at the ministerial level.