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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Guardian staff with Australian Associated Press

Scott Morrison says it would have been ‘weakness’ for him to meet new Chinese ambassador

Scott Morrison
The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, says there is ‘great concern across the Pacific family’ over China’s signing of a security deal with the Solomon Islands. Photograph: Bianca de Marchi/AAP

The Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, says there will be no diplomatic thaw in relations with China until it lifts a block on ministerial meetings.

“So long as China continues to refuse to have dialogue with Australian ministers and the prime minister, I think that’s an entirely proportional response,” Morrison told reporters on Saturday regarding reports he declined to meet China’s new ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian.

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