Relations between China and Australia reached a “low point” but are back on track under Anthony Albanese’s leadership, Chinese Premier Li Qiang says.
The prime minister on Tuesday wrapped up a day of high-level talks in Beijing when he met with Mr Li at the Great Hall of the People.
China’s premier congratulated Mr Albanese on his re-election and for his “personal efforts” to stabilise the China-Australia relationship, which soured under the former Liberal government during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“China-Australia relations have moved beyond a low point and returned to the right track of stability and development,” Mr Li said.
Since the pair last met in October last year “a lot has happened in the world”, Mr 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.
Mr 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 prime minister earlier used a meeting with President Xi Jinping to raise concerns over China’s lack of notice before it conducted military drills off the Australian coast.
The live firing exercise in international waters near Australia in February forced commercial flights overhead to divert.
Speaking after Tuesday’s meeting, Mr 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 want peace and security in the region, that is in the interests of both Australia and China,” Mr Albanese replied when asked whether he had raised China’s unprecedented military build-up.
Mr Xi didn’t raise reports 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, Mr Albanese added.
The prime minister also raised the detention of Australian writer Yang Hengjun but said he did not expect immediate progress on the case.
Dr 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,” Mr Albanese told reporters.
The president was all smiles as he greeted his Australian guest in the East Hall – one of the many ornate chambers in the Great Hall of the People.
In a pointed prod at US isolationism under Donald Trump, Mr 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 President Xi, Premier Li and Communist Party Chairman Zhao Leji – the three highest-ranking members of China’s ruling committee – mark the centrepiece of Mr Albanese’s six-day tour of the Middle Kingdom.
In his meeting with Mr Zhao, the chairman noted Mr Albanese’s visit so soon after his re-election showed the importance of the Sino-Australian relationship.
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.
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