Penny Wong advised to pressure China over Russian invasion of Ukraine, documents reveal

Briefing notes obtained by Guardian Australia give an insight into the key points that were expected to be raised by Wong during the first visit to China by an Australian minister in three years, including on human rights.

While the documents are not a record of what was said in the meeting, they reveal the way Dfat advised Wong to raise a number of issues.

In the days after the visit, Putin announced that Moscow had made a deal to station tactical nuclear weapons on Belarusian territory.

The Dfat documents show how Wong planned to raise human rights with her Chinese counterpart by suggesting that China was not being singled out.

Many parts of the document are redacted, because of the potential impact on diplomatic relations.

James Laurenceson, the director of the Australia-China Relations Institute at the University of Technology Sydney, said on Monday that he was upbeat about the prospects for the relationship in 2023.

The trip is likely to help pave the way for a future trip by the trade minister, Don Farrell, as soon as April.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, said there had been some progress in removing trade impediments.

The Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, is also making his way to China this week, while the West Australian premier, Mark McGowan, plans to travel there soon.