China suspends economic dialogue with Australia as ties worsen

Disputes over technology and the coronavirus pandemic have eroded relations between the two countries in recent years.

China has “indefinitely” suspended all activity under a China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue, its state economic planner said in the latest setback for their strained relations. “Recently, some Australian Commonwealth Government officials launched a series of measures to disrupt the normal exchanges and cooperation between China and Australia out of Cold War mindset and ideological discrimination,” China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a short statement on Thursday about the decision. The commission did not say what specific measures prompted the action.