MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to embark on a significant diplomatic trip to China, with an emphasis on enhancing business relations between the two nations. Albanese announced on Friday that he will depart for China on Saturday, visiting major cities including Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu. His agenda includes crucial meetings with Chinese leaders, such as President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Chairman Zhao Leji of the National People's Congress.
The specifics of these high-level meetings have not been publicly disclosed. However, Albanese's trip is expected to include interactions with representatives from business, tourism, and sports sectors in Shanghai and Chengdu. He will also lead a business delegation and participate in a CEO roundtable event scheduled for Tuesday in Beijing.
Albanese underscored the potential for collaboration in sectors such as green energy, expressing optimism about increased engagement in these areas. "Certainly in areas such as green energy for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement," he commented to reporters in Sydney. He articulated the approach of his government, stating, "We cooperate where we can and we disagree where we must," indicating a willingness to have candid discussions about the differences that may arise between Australia and China.
This forthcoming trip marks Albanese's second visit to China since his Labor Party government came into power in 2022, following its reelection with an increased majority in May. During his tenure, Albanese has successfully encouraged Beijing to retract a series of trade barriers that were previously imposed by the conservative government, which had cost Australian exporters more than 20 billion Australian dollars (approximately $13 billion) annually.
Relations between Australia and China had deteriorated under the prior administration, especially following Australia's calls for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Monetarily, Albanese has emphasized the necessity of reducing Australia’s economic reliance on China while still valuing the country's significance as a free trade partner. "My government has worked very hard to diversify trade... and to increase our relationships with other countries in the region, including India and Indonesia and the ASEAN countries," he remarked, referring to the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Albanese acknowledged that while diversification of trade relationships is essential, the association with China remains crucial, particularly for exports directed towards North Asian economies like South Korea and Japan. This diplomatic initiative underlines the Australian government's strategy to balance economic engagements while navigating geopolitical complexities in the region.
