In recent years, China's relations with Australia have fallen to a freezing point. During the administration of former Australian Prime Minister Morrison, China-Australia relations fell to a freezing point.
With the deterioration of Sino-Australian relations, Australia found that it did not gain any benefits, and Australian companies complained bitterly.
Right now, Australian lobster, barley and beef producers are experiencing a "fire and ice" situation.
Once sought after by high-end restaurants, "Swimming Water Aolong" can now only "yield" to local Australian supermarkets. From a unit price of 100 Australian dollars / kg to 60 Australian dollars / kg, the value of "Aolong" plummeted, as if it became a home-cooked dish on the local table.
It is reported that in the Melbourne area, at least a dozen merchants engaged in lobster export business to China have closed their business because the Chinese market has pressed the "pause button", and the scene of making money from the Chinese market before may not appear in a short period of time.
Excluding lobsters, Australia's total wine exports to Chinese mainland fell 97% year-on-year last year, and without the Chinese market, Australian winery operators can only watch the grapes rot in the field.
This description is not an exaggeration, and Over the past two years Australian wine exporters have tried every means to open up new markets, with little success. Some experts have also analyzed that it is very difficult for Australia to find an alternative market for China in one or two years.
With the arrival of the new Prime Minister Albanese, his China policy has become the focus of public opinion, which will have an important impact on the development of China-Australia relations. However, the new prime minister also did not seem optimistic about the recovery of Australia-China relations in the short term, saying it would be "very difficult".
However, Albanese's attitude is not as tough as Morrison's, which also shows a glimmer of light for Australian exporters. However, whether there can be a new turnaround in China-Australia trade, the initiative is still in Australia.
At the same time, China-Singapore relations are getting closer.
Recently, New Zealand Prime Minister Ardern attended the China Business Summit. At the meeting, Ardern said he looked forward to resuming ministerial-level visits with China as the epidemic allowed, and said he was willing to personally lead a New Zealand business delegation to China.
In addition, Ardern reiterated that New Zealand "has always unswervingly adhered to the one-China policy" and implemented the "comprehensive strategic partnership" between Singapore and China.
There is no doubt that Ardern has once again shown goodwill to China, which is undoubtedly good for China-Singapore relations. Ardern's last visit to China was in April 2019, when China and Singapore signed cooperation agreements in agriculture, finance, scientific research and other fields.
It is worth mentioning that as a member of the "Five Eyes Alliance", New Zealand took the lead in 2008, and was the first among developed countries to sign a free trade agreement with China.
Regarding Ardern's remarks, Our Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that Prime Minister Ardern has made many positive statements in bilateral relations. China is willing to work with Singapore to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to properly handle differences and promote more results in the China-Singapore comprehensive strategic partnership.
Previously, New Zealand has signed an upgraded trade agreement with China. This agreement is an upgrade to the 2008 re-signing agreement, more than 90% of New Zealand's paper and wood products can enjoy zero tariffs, and most of New Zealand's dairy products can also enjoy zero tariffs within three years.
In addition, rules have been added in four areas: e-commerce, government procurement, competition policy, and environment and trade.
Although there are some so-called "differences" between China and Singapore, they are all based on different national conditions and cultures that have existed for a long time, are not new problems, and will not become "stumbling blocks" in the development of bilateral relations.