China: Ties With Australia Headed in ‘Right Direction’

China-Australia relations are seemingly on the mend, with Chinese Leader Xi Jinping remarking the two are "moving in the right direction" during a congratulatory message for Australia Day. Trade relations do appear to be warming between the major partners after some three years of tension. China placed unofficial bans on Australian products from coal, to wine in 2020. The move was widely considered retaliation. That's after Australia called for an inquiry into the origins of COVID-19 and put a 5G network ban on Chinese telecom giant Huawei.