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Australia news live: Penny Wong wins jet fuel pledge from China in Beijing visit; US lawmaker says Aukus price might go up
TL;DR
Australia's Foreign Minister Penny Wong secured a commitment from China to facilitate jet fuel exports to address supply disruptions from the Middle East conflict. This agreement follows her discussions with Chinese officials in Beijing.
Key points
- Penny Wong visited Beijing for talks with Chinese officials
- China agreed to facilitate jet fuel exports to Australia
- Supply disruptions are linked to the Middle East conflict
- Refineries in the Indo-Pacific are disproportionately affected
- China paused exports to protect domestic supplies at the war's start
Mentioned in this story
Penny WongWang YiHan ZhengChinese governmentBeijing
Australia’s foreign minister Penny Wong says China has agreed to work to facilitate exports of jet fuel, in an attempt to ease supply disruptions caused by the war in the Middle East, AFP reports.
China, a major exporter of jet fuel and diesel to Australia and other countries, has avoided the worst of the war’s energy impacts thanks to its vast oil stocks, but paused exports at the start of the war to protect its domestic supplies.
“I can confirm... that the Chinese government is facilitating engagement with Australian businesses on jet fuel,” Wong told reporters in Beijing, following talks with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and Chinese Vice President Han Zheng.
She added that the move was “an important step, however, it is the first step”.
Earlier in the day, Wong had told Han that refineries in the Indo-Pacific region were disproportionately affected by the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.
In the talks, she called for greater reciprocity in trade, emphasising that Australia’s steady supply of raw materials and food to China should be matched by a reliable flow of gasoline, kerosene and fertilizers back to Australia.
“I made the point that the import inputs China supplies to Australia, including jet fuel, support the Australian resources sector, which in turn helps to maintain the flow of commodities that are so important in the bilateral trading relationship,” Wong told the press conference.
Good morning and welcome to our live news blog. I’m Martin Farrer with the top overnight stories and then it will be Nick Visser with the main action.
Penny Wong has been busy on her latest overseas trip, saying China has agreed to negotiate on jet fuel sales to help ease the global oil crisis.
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Q&A
What did Penny Wong achieve during her visit to China?
Penny Wong secured a pledge from China to facilitate jet fuel exports to Australia to alleviate supply disruptions.
How is the war in the Middle East affecting jet fuel supplies?
The war has caused supply disruptions, particularly impacting refineries in the Indo-Pacific region due to the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz.
What is China's role in jet fuel exports to Australia?
China is a major exporter of jet fuel and diesel to Australia and has agreed to engage with Australian businesses to facilitate these exports.
