The China-Australia relationship

China can solve the Australian wine crisis - meeting planned  

Anthony Albanese becomes the first Australian prime minister in seven years to visit China. This is reported by AP.  

The announcement that the Prime Minister will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing and Shanghai is communicated in connection with China agreeing to review the customs duties previously placed on the import of Australian wine. The charges have meant that trade in Australia's largest export market for wine has shrunk very sharply. 

- It is in our interest to have good relations with China, says Albanese at a press conference.  

The meeting - and the possible solution to the wine crisis - is another example of the thawed relations between the countries that have occurred since Albanian Labor took over government power last year. 

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China brings back historic flutist and dinosaur  

Australia has returned three historic items previously smuggled from China. The BBC reports.  

These are two figurines from the Tang Dynasty, which operated during the period 618–907. One depicts a flute-playing rider on horseback, the other Avalokiteshvarav, a Buddhist symbol of compassion. 

In addition, a fossil of the hyphalosaurus dinosaur species that lived in present-day China 120 million years ago is left. The items had been seized by Australian police in recent years. China's ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, expressed his "heartfelt gratitude" in a statement.  

The handover takes place at the same time that Australia and China, whose relationship has long been strained, have to some extent begun to approach each other.