Li is the second most powerful Chinese official behind Chinese President Xi Jinping,and the move ends a freeze of more than two years in which Beijing refused to engage with Canberra at the ministerial or prime ministerial level.
China has imposed more than $20 billion of trade strikes on Australia over the past two years in response to key national security decisions taken by Canberra including the banning of Chinese telco Huawei from the 5G network and the call for an independent inquiry into COVID-19.
“The Chinese side is ready to work with the Australian side to review the past,look into the future and uphold the principle of mutual respect and mutual benefit,so as to promote the sound and steady growth of their comprehensive strategic partnership,” Mr Li said.
The message referenced the fact that it was a Labor government in the 1970s which made the “correct choice” in establishing diplomatic ties with Beijing.
The overture comes as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is set to visit about five Pacific island countries over the coming two weeks,headlined by the signing of acontroversial security pact between China and Solomon Islands.
Solomon Islands Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare confirmed the visit from Wang,saying the Solomons would “receive a high-level visit from the government of the People’s Republic of China later this week”.
Wang is expected to arrive in the Solomons on Wednesday night and have meetings with Sogavare and some of his ministers and officials on Thursday. The Chinese foreign minister will also visit other Pacific nations including Fiji and Papua New Guinea over the next two weeks.