Beijing: An official Chinese state newspaper has urged Prime Minister Scott Morrison to "build more consensus" on China policy in his government ranks if he wants to improve ties with China.
The China Daily in an editorial on Monday wrote approvingly of Morrison, who had played down "anti-China remarks" by his home affairs minister Peter Dutton, but the newspaper said this wasn't enough.
Scott Morrison, pictured with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in 2018, is yet to visit China since becoming Prime Minister. Credit:AAP
Under the headline "Canberra still has work to do", the editorial praised Morrison for sending an "unmistakeable message" to US President Donald Trump last month that "China is a partner, not a threat, to Australia".
"How he dealt with Dutton’s remarks shows he is consistent in this stance and does not want more damage to be done to bilateral ties. But the ball remains in Canberra's court," the newspaper wrote.
Dutton, the Home Affairs Minister, criticised the Chinese Communist Party on Friday, accusing it of cyber attacks and infiltrating Australian universities.
China Daily, the main English-language newspaper published in China, said "Dutton represents a clique of alt-right forces in Canberra which seems always ready to blame China for Australia's own problems or tries fishing for its own political gains by criticising China".
It also repeated criticism of Australian media that is frequently raised with Australian diplomats in Beijing by Chinese foreign ministry officials.
"To improve ties with its biggest trading partner, [Canberra] needs to distance itself from irresponsible remarks like those from Dutton and at the same time step up efforts that facilitate positive interaction with China," the newspaper counselled.
The more sensational Chinese-language Global Times summarised Dutton's comments in a news story headlined "Grating comments of Australian minister undermine Australia China relationship".
Despite a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China, no Australian prime minister has visited China since 2016.
No Chinese leader has visited Australia since premier Li Keqiang was hosted by then prime minister Malcolm Turnbull in March 2017.
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