China vs Australia: Beijing gives desperate plea for country to be ‘rational’ amid tension

Zhao Lijian, China’s foreign ministry spokesman, has urged Canberra not to scrap their local agreements with Beijing.

He said in a press conference: “The cooperation between China and Victoria under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative is conducive to enhancing the well-being of the people on both sides”.

He added that while China accepts the legislation was part of Australia’s “internal affairs”, he stressed hopes that Canberra would act in an “objective and rational manner”.

The spokesman added: “I want to emphasise that the hard-earned results of cooperation between China and Australia in the fields of economy, trade, humanities and localities over the years are in the common interests of both parties.”

source: express.co.uk