What we learned: Wednesday, 21 December
With that, we will wrap the blog for the evening. Four sleeps till Christmas, for those who partake!
Here were the major developments of the day:
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, has fronted the media in China ahead of a meeting with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. Asked if she was looking forward to “breaking the ice”, she replied “ice thaws, but slowly”.
China’s president, Xi Jinping, has said his country is “ready to advance relations with Australia based on mutual respect, win-win principles”, Chinese state media outlets have reported.
In Australia, a body believed to be that of a missing elderly Queensland man has been recovered from flood waters in south-west NSW.
Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow have been ordered posthumous medals following their killings during service in Wieambilla, Queensland. Annastacia Palaszczuk, the state’s premier, said at a police memorial attended by thousands today that “no words” could heal the “awful grief” of the event.
And the ACT chief minister has announced an inquiry into the handling of the Bruce Lehrmann prosecution.
Updated
An update of the schedule in Beijing tonight
The foreign affairs minister, Penny Wong, is due to begin the meeting with her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, in Beijing in about half an hour (6.30pm AEDT).
That will be followed at 8pm AEDT by a commemorative ceremony to mark today’s 50 anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Australia and China.
At this stage, Wong is due to hold a press conference from about 8.10pm AEDT when she will face questions from the small number of Australian journalists who have accompanied her on the trip. Wang is not expected to attend the press conference, with officials citing “China’s Covid-19 protocols”.
Updated
