BEIJING (AP) — Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has embarked on a significant weeklong visit to China aimed at strengthening the trade relations between the two nations. His trip commenced over the weekend, highlighted by his meeting with Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Jining on Sunday. This initial meeting marks the beginning of a series of high-level discussions that will later include key figures such as Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Zhao Leji, the Chairman of the National People’s Congress.
Upon his arrival in Shanghai on Saturday, Albanese expressed the importance of economic relations between Australia and China, emphasizing that he is accompanied by "a very large business delegation." This visit underscores the renewed focus on bilateral trade, which has been deeply affected by tensions in previous years. Albanese's itinerary includes interactions with representatives from business, tourism, and sports sectors in major Chinese cities like Shanghai and Chengdu, culminating in a CEO roundtable on Tuesday in Beijing as reported by his office.
This marks Albanese's second trip to China since his center-left Labor Party won the government in 2022. Recently, the Labor Party was reelected with an increased majority in May, signaling a stable domestic political environment conducive to engaging with China. Since taking office, Albanese has successfully persuaded the Chinese government to lift various official and unofficial trade barriers imposed by the previous conservative administration. These barriers had cost Australian exporters approximately 20 billion Australian dollars (about $13 billion) annually.
The previous government had seen relations deteriorate sharply, particularly following Canberra's demands for an independent inquiry into the COVID-19 pandemic's origins and handling. During his current visit, Albanese aims to balance the relationship with China while simultaneously striving to reduce Australia's economic dependence on it. He noted plans to diversify Australia's trade relationships with other nations in the region, specifically mentioning India, Indonesia, and ASEAN countries, which represent the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
However, Albanese acknowledged the significance of maintaining a robust relationship with China, particularly concerning exports tied to North Asian economies such as South Korea and Japan. In light of Albania's visit, the Chinese state-run Xinhua News Agency published an editorial highlighting that the relationship between China and Australia is "steadily improving" and gaining "fresh momentum." The piece emphasized that there are "no fundamental conflicts of interest" between the two nations, advocating that mutual respect and a focus on shared interests could lead to common prosperity.
As Albanese engages in meetings throughout the week, both nations appear poised to explore opportunities for mutual benefits while navigating the complexities of their intertwined economic futures.
