China Praises Albanese's 'Personal Efforts' to Renew Relations

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The relationship between China and Australia had hit a rough patch, but has improved under the leadership of Anthony Albanese, according to Chinese Premier Li Qiang.

On Tuesday, the Australian Prime Minister concluded a series of significant discussions in Beijing with a meeting with Li at the Great Hall of the People.

The Chinese Premier commended Albanese on his re-election and his “personal efforts” in stabilizing the relationship between China and Australia, which had been strained under the previous Liberal government during the COVID-19 crisis.

“The relationship between China and Australia has risen from a low point and is now on a stable and developing path,” Li commented.

Since the pair last met in October last year, “a lot has happened in the world”, Li said, and there was growing instability and uncertainty in the global economy.

“The development of all countries is faced with new challenges. Given such circumstances, China and Australia as important trade partners, should strengthen dialogue and co-operation,” he said.

Albanese said he looked forward to the two nations exploring new opportunities in trade, climate change, tourism and culture.

“We’ll also have an opportunity to have a frank and open dialogue that enables us to navigate issues that need to be discussed,” he said.

The live firing exercise in international waters near Australia in February forced commercial flights overhead to divert.

Speaking after Tuesday’s meeting, Albanese said he had secured a commitment for China to better inform Australia on military drills in the region.

The prime minister noted the drills being in international waters did not contravene international law, “but that we were concerned about the notice and the way that it happened, including the live fire exercises”.

Australia’s position on there being no unilateral change to the status quo over Taiwan was also conveyed to the president, he said.

“We aim for peace and security in the region, which is beneficial for both countries,” Albanese responded when questioned about China’s significant military expansion.

Australian and China would be able to have “a frank and open dialogue”, Anthony Albanese said. Source: AAP

Xi didn’t raise reports that the United States had asked Australia to commit to teaming up during a potential conflict with China over Taiwan, nor Labor’s commitment to terminate a Chinese company’s lease of the Port of Darwin, Albanese added.

Yang was given a suspended death sentence in China on secretive national security charges that Australia rejects.

“I raised the case, you wouldn’t expect there to be an immediate outcome and that is not the way things work,” Albanese told reporters.

In a pointed prod at US isolationism under Donald Trump, Xi said countries should work together to “support multilateralism and free trade, defend the UN-centred international system and the international order”.

The Chinese readout noted the prime minister “reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to the one-China policy and its opposition to ‘Taiwan independence'”.

The bilateral meetings with Xi, Li and Communist Party Chairman Zhao Leji — the three highest-ranking members of China’s ruling committee — mark the centrepiece of Albanese’s six-day tour of the Middle Kingdom.

During his meeting with Zhao, the chairman pointed out that Albanese’s visit shortly after his re-election underscored the significance of the relationship between China and Australia.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chinese security officials tried to stop Australian journalists, who were travelling with the prime minister’s delegation, from leaving a tourist attraction in Beijing after filming in the area.

The group of reporters had permission to film at the location, but were stopped by security officials and were told to hand over footage before police arrived.

The journalists were able to leave the site with the footage, despite being followed by security.