Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong arrived in Beijing on April 28 for an official visit to China, where she is set to hold the 8th Australia–China Strategic Dialogue with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The trip follows her visit to Japan and is scheduled to conclude on April 30, after which she will travel to South Korea.
Officials said the visit will focus on bilateral relations, trade, and regional stability. However, amid ongoing instability in the Middle East and disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, energy security is expected to be a central issue.
Australia currently imports around 90% of its refined fuel, mainly from Asian refining systems. China is both a key supplier of aviation fuel to Australia and a major buyer of Australian liquefied natural gas. Wong said ensuring stable energy supply and effective intergovernmental coordination is a key objective of the visit.
Earlier, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited Singapore, Brunei, and Malaysia, highlighting Canberra’s intensified regional energy diplomacy.
China said the visit aims to maintain a “mature, stable and constructive” bilateral relationship, with discussions covering trade and regional issues. Both sides had previously agreed, through leader-level communication, to strengthen cooperation on energy security.
Meanwhile, the United States on the same day announced new sanctions on 35 individuals and entities linked to Iran, accusing them of helping Tehran evade sanctions through underground financial networks and supporting military activities. Washington also warned that financial institutions dealing with certain Chinese private refiners could face secondary sanctions risks.
Analysts note that China purchased over 80% of Iran’s seaborne oil exports in 2025, making it a key focus of sanctions pressure. As the US continues to intensify restrictions on Iran and extend their impact into Asian energy supply chains, regional energy security and geopolitical risks are rising simultaneously.