China urges Australia to revoke decision to cancel 2 BRI deals

Beijing on Thursday urged Canberra to immediately revoke its erroneous decision regarding two Belt and Road deals and refrain from irresponsible words and deeds, otherwise it would take resolute countermeasures.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a daily news briefing in response to an announcement by Australian Foreign Minister Marise Payne that two deals between Victoria state and China on the Belt and Road Initiative were cancelled, and alleging the action was about ensuring consistency in foreign relations across Australia and not aimed at any country.

"It completely does not hold water," Wang said, refuting the claim.

He pointed out that the Australian government investigated more than 1,000 deals, of which four were rescinded and China-related deals accounted for half.

"Over the past years, the Australian side has taken many moves that result in damaging normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia and poisoning mutual trust between the two countries and the atmosphere of public opinions," he said.

The political manipulation and unreasonable behavior of the Australian side, which are egregious in nature and reverse the course of history, are totally in breach of the spirit of the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, Wang said.

He added that it would not only exert a negative impact on the confidence of cooperation among local entrepreneurs between the two countries, but also severely damage the image and reputation of Australia itself.

Wang noted the Chinese side always holds that a sound and stable Sino-Australian relationship serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples.

The Australian side claimed it wants to cooperate and conduct high-level dialogues with the Chinese side. Yet it has only paid lip service and harmed bilateral relations time and again.

"It shows that the Australian government has no sincerity in improving China-Australia relations," he said, calling for the Australian side not to set groundless limits to normal exchanges and cooperation between the two countries.