China serenades Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with warmth, respect and Australian rock during state visit to Beijing
Since arriving in China, Mr Albanese has been treated to a choreographed show of hospitality by the Chinese Communist Party, and loudly applauded by state media.
His six-day, three-city visit marks an important global moment as China seeks to position itself as a credible alternative partner to the United States under Donald Trump.
Mr Albanese has toed the CCP party line for the most part, avoiding discussing controversial topics including the Russia-Ukraine War and the Port of Darwin lease.
In response, he has received the 'full kit and caboodle' from President Xi Jinping, including musical performances and loud public applause.
Speaking at the Great Wall of China on day four of his visit, Mr Albanese detailed the 'warmth' and 'respect' with which the Chinese delegation has treated him.
He described his private dinner with President Xi as a 'splendid occasion' and 'very warm'.
'The band there in the Great Hall played a different version of Paul Kelly's To Her Door, of Midnight Oil's Power and the Passion, of a range of songs as well," he said.
"That obviously took them a long period of time, and those gestures matter. Respect matters between countries.
'They did it very well, I must say, as well. Powderfinger as well — they did the full kit and caboodle. So, it was a splendid occasion.'
The feeling appears to be mutual as the state media continues to heap praise on Mr Albanese.
Beijing's leading English state media outlet, China Daily, applauded the significance of the bilateral and trade relations between Mr Albanese and President Xi on Tuesday.
'Albanese's visit shows that the Australian side has a clearer… understanding of China than it had under the previous Scott Morrison government,' China Daily said.
Another state-run publication, Global Times, commended Mr Albanese for adopting a 'pragmatic and rational approach to China policy'.
However there has been some tension beneath the surface, but it has remained largely unaddressed by either leader.
"The opportunity to sit down and have a meal and talk about personal issues, talk about things that aren't necessarily heavily political, is really important," Mr Albanese said.
'One of the things that my government does is engage in diplomacy. We don't shout with megaphones, we engage in diplomacy. That is in Australia's interest.'
The Chinese read-out of Mr Albanese's meeting with President Xi Jinping on Tuesday claimed that he had opposed 'Taiwanese independence'.
Asked whether that was an accurate representation of the closed-door meeting, Mr Albanese distanced himself from the claim, saying he hadn't seen the report.
'I agreed that Australia has had a long-standing bipartisan position that has supported the One China policy. That is our position,' Mr Albanese said.
When asked if he discussed the controversial topic of the Chinese firm Landbridge's 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin, Mr Albanese said it never came up with President Xi.
'No, it wasn't raised. I can't be clearer than that… I don't need to (raise it),' Mr Albanese told reporters in Beijing.
But while the renewed civility between the Albanese government and the Xi regime appears to hold, critics have warned it masks deeper strategic failures.
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