UPDATE 1-Australia cites national interest for cancelling state accords on China s Belt and Road Reuters 2 hrs ago
By Kirsty Needham
SYDNEY, April 22 (Reuters) - Australia said a decision to cancel two accords between Victoria state and China on the Belt and Road Initiative was taken to ensure consistency in foreign relations and was not aimed at any country.
The Chinese embassy earlier criticised the move by Foreign Minister Marise Payne to veto two agreements signed by Victoria state as provocative and said it would further damage ties with Australia.
Payne said on Thursday that Australia was a federation and states entering into agreements with foreign governments are now required to consult with the federal government.
This scheme is very focused on Australia s national interest, Australia s Foreign Minister said.
Sydney:
Australia said a decision to cancel two accords between Victoria state and China on the Belt and Road Initiative was taken to ensure consistency in foreign relations and was not aimed at any country.
The Chinese embassy earlier criticised the move by Foreign Minister Marise Payne to veto two agreements signed by Victoria state as provocative and said it would further damage ties with Australia.
Payne said on Thursday that Australia was a federation and states entering into agreements with foreign governments are now required to consult with the federal government.
Australia said a decision to cancel two accords between Victoria state and China on the Belt and Road Initiative was taken to ensure consistency in foreign relations and was not aimed at any country.
The Chinese embassy earlier criticised the move by Foreign Minister Marise Payne to veto two agreements signed by Victoria state as “provocative” and said it would further damage ties with Australia.
Payne said on Thursday (22 April) that Australia was a federation and states entering into agreements with foreign governments are now required to consult with the federal government.
“This scheme is very focused on Australia’s national interest. It’s about ensuring consistency of our foreign relations across Australia and it’s most certainly not aimed at any one country,” she told ABC radio’s AM programme.
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Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. (File photo: REUTERS/Issei Kato)
22 Apr 2021 04:06PM (Updated:
22 Apr 2021 06:04PM) Share this content
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SYDNEY: Australia said on Thursday (Apr 22) that it cancelled two accords between Victoria state and China on the Belt and Road Initiative because they were out of line with the federal government s foreign policy, which sees a free and open Indo Pacific as a key goal.
A Chinese foreign ministry spokesman responded by urging Australia to abandon its Cold War mentality and ideological bias and immediately correct its mistakes and change course .
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