Australian PM Anthony Albanese is on a four-day visit to China, during which he vowed to “work constructively” with the Asian power as the two countries seek to repair frayed relations.
Comments from Albanese
During the opening ceremony of the 6th China International Import Expo in Shanghai on Sunday, Albanese said “Constructive economic engagement between countries helps to build relationships... that is why the government that I lead will continue to work constructively with China.”
The PM further added: “Australia will co-operate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest… Dialogue with China is vital to helping secure peace, prosperity and security in our region and globally, and to navigate the challenges and opportunities our region will face this century.”
China-Australia Ties
He further noted in his speech that this was his seventh visit to China, but his first as the Australian PM.
His visit to the country comes after China’s Ministry of Commerce announced on 22 October that Beijing had reached an agreement with Canberra on a “proper resolution” to trade disputes over wine and wind towers.
We’ve just marked 50 years of diplomatic relations between Australia and China.
— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) November 5, 2023
In that time both our countries have benefited from the growth of our region. pic.twitter.com/E1XTqQmOvu
Prior to this, relations between the two countries had broken down in 2020, after then PM Scott Morrison and former FM Marise Payne repeatedly called for an international investigation into the coronavirus pandemic, including its source, how it spread, and China’s culpability.
In addition, Morrison’s government continually expressed concerns over human rights abuses in China.
Subsequently, China suspended trade with Australia and imposed anti-dumping duties and tariffs on several Australian exports, including wine and barley.
In retaliation, Australia abandoned China’s Belt and Road Initiative. In June 2021, Australia approached the WTO to launch proceedings against China for unjust tariffs on Australian goods.
Significance of Current Meetings
According to Chinese state mouthpiece Global Times (GT), “this landmark visit will pave the way for the two Asia-Pacific partners to resume summit diplomacy and facilitate more cooperation and strategic dialogue.”
Similarly, Yu Lei, chief research fellow at the Research Center for Pacific Island Countries of Liaocheng University, told GT on Sunday that the visit is expected “to facilitate the restoration of summit diplomacy and face-to-face communication for the top leaders of both countries.”
Moreover, Yu said that the main focus of Albanese’s discussions in Beijing “is expected to be on issues related to the economic and trade relationship between the two countries, the restoration of interrupted human rights and strategic dialogue mechanisms, and on strengthening communication and exchanges on regional issues of mutual concern.”