Jim Chalmers spruiks China trade, admits ‘complexities' ahead of PM's trip
Among the myriad of thorny issues is Labor's election commitment to get the Port of Darwin back in Australian hands.
It has not ruled out forcing a sale to break the 99-year lease to China's Landbridge Holdings, which was greenlit by the Turnbull-Coalition government a decade ago.
Beijing has indicated it would bring up the touchy topic when Mr Albanese visits.
Calling the trip a 'very, very important opportunity', the Treasurer on Wednesday said raising points of agreement and disagreement was a balancing act.
'This is a trading relationship and economic relationship that benefits both sides, and we've shown a willingness and ability to stabilise that relationship, to engage in our national interests and in the interests of our workers and businesses and investors,' Mr Chalmers told the ABC.
'But there are complexities in the relationship as well, and we've been clear that we think the Port of Darwin should never have been sold off under the previous Liberal government in the first place.
'We've made it very clear that we will see the Port of Darwin return to Australian hands – that's what we committed to during the election.'
Hesitant to drop any details, he said the Albanese government would 'work through that methodically'.
'We won't speculate on prospective buyers, and we'll have more to say about it in due course,' Mr Chalmers added.
'But there are complexities in the relationship with China.
'We don't pretend that there aren't, and this is one of them, and we'll work through it with engagement, we'll work through it methodically and in a considered way as we have with some of the other issues in the relationship.'
In China, state media has framed Mr Albanese's visit positively or along strictly neutral, government-issued lines.
The Global Times – a Chinese Communist Party mouthpiece that routinely publishes anti-West, anti-Australia propaganda – reported that China was 'willing to work with Australia', citing the country's foreign ministry.
China Daily took a similar line.
'Under the guidance of the leaders of the two countries and with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Australia relations have continued to improve,' China Daily cited the same foreign ministry spokeswoman as saying.
'China is willing to work with Australia to take this visit as an opportunity to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, expand practical co-operation, and advance the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.'
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