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Penny Wong has told China's foreign minister that Australians were "shocked" at the death sentence handed to democracy advocate Dr Yang Jun and has warned the federal government will continue to advocate for the imprisoned writer's release.
Wong met with her Chinese counterpart, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, in Canberra today, during which she raised the case of Yang and China's human rights record, even as the two talked about the need for a "mature and productive relationship".
"The meeting was an opportunity for both the minister and I to exchange frank views on issues that matter to us," Wong said at a press conference following the meeting.
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"We discussed the sentencing of Dr Yang Jun. I told the foreign minister, Australians were shocked at the sentence imposed, and I made clear to him that the Australian government will continue to advocate on Dr Yang's behalf.
"I also raised our concerns about other Australian death penalty cases. As you know, Australia opposes the death penalty in all circumstances for all peoples."
Wang did not speak to the media following the meeting.
The meeting comes as the relationship between the two nations continues to stabilise, with restrictive tariffs on Australian wine set to be lifted and China's second-in-command, Premier Li Qiang, on track to visit for a meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese later this year.
Australia has also lifted restrictions on Chinese-made wind turbines, a decision Wong said was not made in exchange for the easing of wine tariffs.
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"Minister (Ed) Husic has made a decision based on the apolitical and evidence‑based recommendation from the Anti-Dumping Commissioner," she said.
"And Australia has made clear the independence of that commission and our trade remedy system."
In keeping with the overall approach of the government over the past two years, Wong said it was crucial for Australia and China to "to cooperate where we can and disagree where we must".
"We do have important differences," she said.
"Dialogue enables us to manage our differences. It doesn't eliminate them, but this government in the interests of Australia will always seek to manage those differences wisely.
"As I said in the outset of my meeting, China will always be China, Australia will always be Australia."
