China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi is preparing for business discussions after holding high-level diplomatic talks with Penny Wong.
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At Parliament House in Canberra on Wednesday the foreign minister met with Mr Wang, who is the most senior Chinese official to visit Australia since 2017.
Mr Wang also met with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
He is expected to meet with former prime minister Paul Keating in addition to business leaders in Sydney on Thursday.
Mr Keating has been scathing of the AUKUS security pact, under which Australia will acquire nuclear-powered submarines.
He has also taken swipes at Australian media outlets over what he claims is anti-China coverage.
Mr Keating said he had received an unexpected invitation last week to meet with the Chinese foreign minister, and described the talks between Senator Wong and Mr Wang as a good development.
Senator Wong insisted the government didn't drop restrictions on Chinese-made wind turbines in exchange for the lifting of sanctions on Australian wine.
Beijing slapped trade sanctions worth $20 billion on Australian products during the height of diplomatic tensions in 2020.
About $2 billion's worth remains on wine, lobster and beef.
Industry Minister Ed Husic last Friday agreed to drop anti-dumping action against imported Chinese wind turbines, which Chinese state media hailed as a "good gesture" ahead of Mr Wang's visit.
But Senator Wong rejected there had been a quid pro quo.
"There's no relationship between the wine dispute and the steel disputes," the foreign minister said.
"Minister Husic has made a decision based on the apolitical and evidence-based recommendation from the Anti-Dumping Commission.
"Australia has made clear the independence of that commission and our trade remedy system."
Senator Wong said she also told Mr Wang that Australians were shocked by the suspended death sentence imposed on jailed writer Dr Yang Hengjun, and that the government would continue to advocate for him.
The foreign minister also flagged an expected trip to Australia by Chinese Premier Li Qiang this year.
Australian Associated Press
