Albanese handed some Chinese luck in US war tensions
It was a fitting gesture from Muscat, who now coaches the Shanghai Port Football Club. A delicate balance is exactly what the prime minister is trying to achieve on his six-day trip to the world's second-largest economy.
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SBS Australia
32 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
'Back on track': China hails Anthony Albanese's 'personal efforts' to restore ties
Relations between China and Australia reached a "low point" but are back on track under Anthony Albanese's leadership, Chinese premier Li Qiang says. On Tuesday, the prime minister wrapped up a day of high-level talks in Beijing when he met with Li at the Great Hall of the People. China's premier congratulated 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," Li said. Since the pair last met in October last year, "a lot has happened in the world", 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. 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 live firing exercise in international waters near Australia in February forced commercial flights overhead to divert. Speaking after Tuesday's meeting, 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," Albanese replied when asked whether he had raised China's unprecedented military build-up. Australian and China would be able to have "a frank and open dialogue", Anthony Albanese said. Source: AAP Xi didn't raise reports that 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 , Albanese added. 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," Albanese told reporters. In a pointed prod at US isolationism under Donald Trump, 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 Xi, Li and Communist Party Chairman Zhao Leji — the three highest-ranking members of China's ruling committee — mark the centrepiece of Albanese's six-day tour of the Middle Kingdom. In his meeting with Zhao, the chairman noted 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.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Sweet and sour in Beijing: PM's China trip bears fruit
Sweet and tangy jujubes could soon be on the way to Australian shelves as part of a broadened trade pact with China. The agreement was one of six signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday as Australia and China sought to boost business links as US President Donald Trump upends the global trade order. Jujubes, a small apple-like fruit, will be exported to Australia while apples from the Australian mainland will be allowed to be exported to China for the first time. Another four memoranda of understanding were signed by the pair as Mr Albanese met the highest-ranking Chinese leaders - President Xi Jinping, Premier Li and Chairman Zhao Leji - in the centrepiece of his six-day visit to China. Australia and China must deepen economic co-operation given increasing trade frictions elsewhere, Mr Li said after a lavish welcome in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. "In recent years, co-operation has encountered headwinds," he said, adding that it was hard to find two countries with more complementary economies than Australia and China. His comments were echoed by Mr Albanese. "My government believes unequivocally in free and fair trade as a driver of global growth, and I know the discussions that we've had today have been very constructive," he said. But the relationship is not without its challenges. China has chafed at Australia's stringent foreign investment regime on Chinese firms. Mr Li said China would protect the rights of foreign businesses and treat them in accordance with the law, in an oblique reference to Australian plans to tear up a Chinese-owned company's lease of Darwin Port. "I trust Australia will treat Chinese enterprise fairly and properly resolve issues regarding market access and investment review," he told a gathering of Australian and Chinese business leaders. Mr Li and Mr Albanese also signed an agreement to kickstart a review of the 10-year-old free trade agreement between the two nations. Collaboration on steel decarbonisation, increasing tourism links and paperless certification of agriculture products were also broached at the meeting. The prime minister will visit the Great Wall on Wednesday before flying out to Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan - known as the home of the giant panda. Sweet and tangy jujubes could soon be on the way to Australian shelves as part of a broadened trade pact with China. The agreement was one of six signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday as Australia and China sought to boost business links as US President Donald Trump upends the global trade order. Jujubes, a small apple-like fruit, will be exported to Australia while apples from the Australian mainland will be allowed to be exported to China for the first time. Another four memoranda of understanding were signed by the pair as Mr Albanese met the highest-ranking Chinese leaders - President Xi Jinping, Premier Li and Chairman Zhao Leji - in the centrepiece of his six-day visit to China. Australia and China must deepen economic co-operation given increasing trade frictions elsewhere, Mr Li said after a lavish welcome in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. "In recent years, co-operation has encountered headwinds," he said, adding that it was hard to find two countries with more complementary economies than Australia and China. His comments were echoed by Mr Albanese. "My government believes unequivocally in free and fair trade as a driver of global growth, and I know the discussions that we've had today have been very constructive," he said. But the relationship is not without its challenges. China has chafed at Australia's stringent foreign investment regime on Chinese firms. Mr Li said China would protect the rights of foreign businesses and treat them in accordance with the law, in an oblique reference to Australian plans to tear up a Chinese-owned company's lease of Darwin Port. "I trust Australia will treat Chinese enterprise fairly and properly resolve issues regarding market access and investment review," he told a gathering of Australian and Chinese business leaders. Mr Li and Mr Albanese also signed an agreement to kickstart a review of the 10-year-old free trade agreement between the two nations. Collaboration on steel decarbonisation, increasing tourism links and paperless certification of agriculture products were also broached at the meeting. The prime minister will visit the Great Wall on Wednesday before flying out to Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan - known as the home of the giant panda. Sweet and tangy jujubes could soon be on the way to Australian shelves as part of a broadened trade pact with China. The agreement was one of six signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday as Australia and China sought to boost business links as US President Donald Trump upends the global trade order. Jujubes, a small apple-like fruit, will be exported to Australia while apples from the Australian mainland will be allowed to be exported to China for the first time. Another four memoranda of understanding were signed by the pair as Mr Albanese met the highest-ranking Chinese leaders - President Xi Jinping, Premier Li and Chairman Zhao Leji - in the centrepiece of his six-day visit to China. Australia and China must deepen economic co-operation given increasing trade frictions elsewhere, Mr Li said after a lavish welcome in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. "In recent years, co-operation has encountered headwinds," he said, adding that it was hard to find two countries with more complementary economies than Australia and China. His comments were echoed by Mr Albanese. "My government believes unequivocally in free and fair trade as a driver of global growth, and I know the discussions that we've had today have been very constructive," he said. But the relationship is not without its challenges. China has chafed at Australia's stringent foreign investment regime on Chinese firms. Mr Li said China would protect the rights of foreign businesses and treat them in accordance with the law, in an oblique reference to Australian plans to tear up a Chinese-owned company's lease of Darwin Port. "I trust Australia will treat Chinese enterprise fairly and properly resolve issues regarding market access and investment review," he told a gathering of Australian and Chinese business leaders. Mr Li and Mr Albanese also signed an agreement to kickstart a review of the 10-year-old free trade agreement between the two nations. Collaboration on steel decarbonisation, increasing tourism links and paperless certification of agriculture products were also broached at the meeting. The prime minister will visit the Great Wall on Wednesday before flying out to Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan - known as the home of the giant panda. Sweet and tangy jujubes could soon be on the way to Australian shelves as part of a broadened trade pact with China. The agreement was one of six signed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Tuesday as Australia and China sought to boost business links as US President Donald Trump upends the global trade order. Jujubes, a small apple-like fruit, will be exported to Australia while apples from the Australian mainland will be allowed to be exported to China for the first time. Another four memoranda of understanding were signed by the pair as Mr Albanese met the highest-ranking Chinese leaders - President Xi Jinping, Premier Li and Chairman Zhao Leji - in the centrepiece of his six-day visit to China. Australia and China must deepen economic co-operation given increasing trade frictions elsewhere, Mr Li said after a lavish welcome in Beijing's Great Hall of the People. "In recent years, co-operation has encountered headwinds," he said, adding that it was hard to find two countries with more complementary economies than Australia and China. His comments were echoed by Mr Albanese. "My government believes unequivocally in free and fair trade as a driver of global growth, and I know the discussions that we've had today have been very constructive," he said. But the relationship is not without its challenges. China has chafed at Australia's stringent foreign investment regime on Chinese firms. Mr Li said China would protect the rights of foreign businesses and treat them in accordance with the law, in an oblique reference to Australian plans to tear up a Chinese-owned company's lease of Darwin Port. "I trust Australia will treat Chinese enterprise fairly and properly resolve issues regarding market access and investment review," he told a gathering of Australian and Chinese business leaders. Mr Li and Mr Albanese also signed an agreement to kickstart a review of the 10-year-old free trade agreement between the two nations. Collaboration on steel decarbonisation, increasing tourism links and paperless certification of agriculture products were also broached at the meeting. The prime minister will visit the Great Wall on Wednesday before flying out to Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan - known as the home of the giant panda.
AU Financial Review
2 hours ago
- AU Financial Review
China premier hits out at Albanese over FIRB laws
Beijing | China's second-in-charge leader has complained directly to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that Chinese businesses are being treated unfairly because of foreign investment restrictions. Premier Li Qiang made the comments in a speech on Tuesday night before the CEOs of some of Australia's biggest companies whose fortunes are tied to China.
