“This visit has been very successful,” Albanese remarked to the press in Chengdu.

Prime Minister Albanese was accompanied by his fiancée, Jodie Haydon, to the panda research base, home to approximately 260 of the around 700 pandas in captivity worldwide. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch

“It was an opportunity to have constructive discussions across the range of issues, security, our relationship, including people-to-people and importantly, our trade,” Albanese said.

“We’ve had constructive engagement … Having the four key Australian resource and iron ore companies — BHP, Rio [Tinto], Fortescue and Hancock — negotiating with their Chinese buyers is hugely beneficial for Australia,” he commented.

At a luncheon earlier in the day, Albanese said there is scope for the “inspiring” technology to expand further, but this relies on continued free and fair trade with China.

Albanese brushes off ‘indulgent’ trip criticism

“And frankly, I have to say that some of this is starting to look a little bit indulgent.”

Opposition leader Sussan Ley also took aim at Albanese for not raising security concerns more forcefully.