Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi is scheduled to visit Canberra next Wednesday. It will be the first such trip in seven years.

Relations soured in 2020 after Australia's previous administration called for an independent inquiry into the origins of the coronavirus. China responded by slapping tariffs as high as 218 percent on Australian wine.

But Albanese's government has been working to improve ties since coming to power almost two years ago. Officials in Canberra said on Wednesday that Beijing plans to lift the tariffs, possibly this month.

China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin didn't provide any details on Wednesday, but he did express optimism about improved ties.