Australia vows to keep raising human rights concerns with China despite ambassador’s warning

China’s ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian has opened the possibility of a conditional resumption of dialogue on human rights. Photograph: Dean Lewins/EPA

The Australian government has vowed to keep raising human rights concerns “at the highest levels” after Beijing’s ambassador urged the country to avoid “trying to smear China”.

After a thaw in the diplomatic relationship between the two countries, China has signalled its openness to resuming a dedicated human rights-focused dialogue for the first time in nine years.