Chinese Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Jan Adams. Photo: Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Their meeting in Canberra marked the first working visit to Australia by a senior Chinese diplomat in six years.

“Secretary Adams reiterated that it was in the shared interests of Australia and China to continue on the path of stabilizing the bilateral relationship,” according to a statement issued after the meeting.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday during a regular media briefing that the Australia-China Deputy Foreign Ministerial Dialogue is a "new round of political consultations" between the two countries, aiming to promote bilateral trade partnership, for the benefit of each country.

Mr. Ma’s visit will pave the way for the further visits by senior officials of the two countries in the near future, experts said.