Trade talks with China back to life

Trade Minister Don Farrell told ABC's 7.30 on Monday night that he is set to speak with China's trade minister Wang Wentao via an online meet set up for next week.

It is the first meeting between the counterparts in more than three years and comes as two cargo ships of Australian coal make their way to China, according to shiptracking data.

The meeting follows Foreign Minister Penny Wong's visit to China in December and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit.

Mr Farrell told 7.30, "We want to stabilise that relationship," Mr Farrell said.

"And in doing that, we want to ensure that we continue to protect our national interests and our national security.

"We want these trade impediments removed and next week I have organised to speak with my Chinese counterpart virtually, to start the ball rolling."

The South China Morning Post suggests that the shipments of coal represent a "thawing of diplomatic tension".