China’s top diplomat to visit Australia and New Zealand

China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit next week to Australia and New Zealand, officials said on Thursday, with the diplomatic blitz expected to focus on easing trade. Wang's visit to Australia, his first as foreign minister since 2017. Wang is scheduled to hold strategic dialogue talks with his Australian Counterpart in Canberra on 20th March.

Beijing's foreign ministry said Wang's visits would be a prelude to high-level exchanges between China and the two countries this year. China looks forward to working with the two countries to implement the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders, strengthen strategic communication, enhance mutual trust, and deepen exchanges and cooperation.