Acting Defence Minister Pat Conroy says ADF is prepared if Chinese spy vessels attempt to observe Talisman Sabre exercises
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Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
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.
Sky News AU
6 hours ago
- Sky News AU
PM agrees to China FTA review, signs tourism deals in Beijing meeting
Anthony Albanese has committed to reviewing Australia's free-trade agreement with China as part of a suite of pacts signed on his trade-touting state visit to the country. The Prime Minister signed six memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with Chinese counterpart Li Qian after talks in the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing. The MoUs also included a commitment from China to import apples from mainland Australia and co-operation on tourism – a key part of Mr Albanese's mission. Before signing the deals, the Chinese Premier praised his Australian guest for 'personal efforts' to stabilise the Australia-China relationship. 'China-Australia relations have moved beyond a low point and returned to the right track of stability and development,' Mr Li said. 'Our pragmatic co-operation is brimming with renewed vitality and bringing real benefits to our two peoples.' He went on to say Mr Albanese's visit at the start of his second term would give 'new momentum' for China and Australia to deepen co-operation against a backdrop of global uncertainty, adding that 'a lot has happened in the world' since the pair last met in October. 'The world economy sees growing instability and uncertainty,' Mr Li said. '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. 'The significance of us doing so is becoming more notable.' His comments echoed remarks made by Xi Jinping, who met with Mr Albanese just hours earlier. Mr Li said Mr Albanese and the Chinese President 'reached important common understandings on deepening China Australia relations'. 'China would like to continue to work with Australia for more outcomes in co-operation across the board, to deliver more benefits to our two peoples,' he said. 'I would like to exchange views with you on issues of common interest in an in depth and candid manner.' Originally published as Anthony Albanese commits to China FTA review during Beijing visit
The Advertiser
7 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Australian, Chinese business leaders seek common ground
Australian and Chinese CEOs are pushing for increased mutual recognition of qualifications and the development of smart agriculture technology. A roundtable of 28 business leaders - 14 from each country - has also called for more work on green steel and regular meetings between education ministers, in a report provided to the nations' leaders. The high-powered gathering in Beijing on Tuesday comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met China's top leaders in the centrepiece of his six-day sojourn to the Middle Kingdom. Mr Albanese's visit has focused on growing economic engagement between the two nations despite concerns over Chinese economic coercion. In his meeting with President Xi Jinping, neither side brought up Australia's plan to tear up a Chinese-owned company's lease of Darwin Port, nor stringent restrictions on Chinese foreign investment in Australia. An article by a Chinese state media-linked influencer published ahead of the meeting suggested Beijing could restrict Australian imports, including iron ore trade valued at more than $100 billion, in response. Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black said business leaders should continue to pursue diversification as an "inherent good in and of itself" as well as increasing links with China. "We want to see more trade, more Australian jobs, and a real future for Australian products in China - from decarbonisation of steel, to beef and rice products - and that was reflected in our discussion here in Beijing," he said. "One in four Australian jobs is trade dependent and so it is vital we increase trade opportunities with all our trading partners, including China." Australia's economic reliance on China was exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Beijing imposed restrictions across $20 billion worth of key exports over political grievances with Canberra. At the time, Australia pursued a policy of trade diversification, successfully making up much of the shortfall with increased exports to countries such as Japan, South Korea and India. But since a thaw in relations following Mr Albanese's election in 2022, trade between Australia and China has rebounded. "So from our perspective, we say let's try and have the best possible relationship that we can with China. Let's try and make sure that we can establish trade opportunities that help jobs and businesses back home," Mr Black told reporters in Beijing. "But let's also concentrate on the engagements that we have overseas with countries like the United Arab Emirates, countries like India, countries like those in Southeast Asia." As well as greater collaboration on education and agriculture, the business communique pushed more work in healthcare, resources, and the green economy. Australian and Chinese CEOs are pushing for increased mutual recognition of qualifications and the development of smart agriculture technology. A roundtable of 28 business leaders - 14 from each country - has also called for more work on green steel and regular meetings between education ministers, in a report provided to the nations' leaders. The high-powered gathering in Beijing on Tuesday comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met China's top leaders in the centrepiece of his six-day sojourn to the Middle Kingdom. Mr Albanese's visit has focused on growing economic engagement between the two nations despite concerns over Chinese economic coercion. In his meeting with President Xi Jinping, neither side brought up Australia's plan to tear up a Chinese-owned company's lease of Darwin Port, nor stringent restrictions on Chinese foreign investment in Australia. An article by a Chinese state media-linked influencer published ahead of the meeting suggested Beijing could restrict Australian imports, including iron ore trade valued at more than $100 billion, in response. Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black said business leaders should continue to pursue diversification as an "inherent good in and of itself" as well as increasing links with China. "We want to see more trade, more Australian jobs, and a real future for Australian products in China - from decarbonisation of steel, to beef and rice products - and that was reflected in our discussion here in Beijing," he said. "One in four Australian jobs is trade dependent and so it is vital we increase trade opportunities with all our trading partners, including China." Australia's economic reliance on China was exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Beijing imposed restrictions across $20 billion worth of key exports over political grievances with Canberra. At the time, Australia pursued a policy of trade diversification, successfully making up much of the shortfall with increased exports to countries such as Japan, South Korea and India. But since a thaw in relations following Mr Albanese's election in 2022, trade between Australia and China has rebounded. "So from our perspective, we say let's try and have the best possible relationship that we can with China. Let's try and make sure that we can establish trade opportunities that help jobs and businesses back home," Mr Black told reporters in Beijing. "But let's also concentrate on the engagements that we have overseas with countries like the United Arab Emirates, countries like India, countries like those in Southeast Asia." As well as greater collaboration on education and agriculture, the business communique pushed more work in healthcare, resources, and the green economy. Australian and Chinese CEOs are pushing for increased mutual recognition of qualifications and the development of smart agriculture technology. A roundtable of 28 business leaders - 14 from each country - has also called for more work on green steel and regular meetings between education ministers, in a report provided to the nations' leaders. The high-powered gathering in Beijing on Tuesday comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met China's top leaders in the centrepiece of his six-day sojourn to the Middle Kingdom. Mr Albanese's visit has focused on growing economic engagement between the two nations despite concerns over Chinese economic coercion. In his meeting with President Xi Jinping, neither side brought up Australia's plan to tear up a Chinese-owned company's lease of Darwin Port, nor stringent restrictions on Chinese foreign investment in Australia. An article by a Chinese state media-linked influencer published ahead of the meeting suggested Beijing could restrict Australian imports, including iron ore trade valued at more than $100 billion, in response. Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black said business leaders should continue to pursue diversification as an "inherent good in and of itself" as well as increasing links with China. "We want to see more trade, more Australian jobs, and a real future for Australian products in China - from decarbonisation of steel, to beef and rice products - and that was reflected in our discussion here in Beijing," he said. "One in four Australian jobs is trade dependent and so it is vital we increase trade opportunities with all our trading partners, including China." Australia's economic reliance on China was exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Beijing imposed restrictions across $20 billion worth of key exports over political grievances with Canberra. At the time, Australia pursued a policy of trade diversification, successfully making up much of the shortfall with increased exports to countries such as Japan, South Korea and India. But since a thaw in relations following Mr Albanese's election in 2022, trade between Australia and China has rebounded. "So from our perspective, we say let's try and have the best possible relationship that we can with China. Let's try and make sure that we can establish trade opportunities that help jobs and businesses back home," Mr Black told reporters in Beijing. "But let's also concentrate on the engagements that we have overseas with countries like the United Arab Emirates, countries like India, countries like those in Southeast Asia." As well as greater collaboration on education and agriculture, the business communique pushed more work in healthcare, resources, and the green economy. Australian and Chinese CEOs are pushing for increased mutual recognition of qualifications and the development of smart agriculture technology. A roundtable of 28 business leaders - 14 from each country - has also called for more work on green steel and regular meetings between education ministers, in a report provided to the nations' leaders. The high-powered gathering in Beijing on Tuesday comes after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met China's top leaders in the centrepiece of his six-day sojourn to the Middle Kingdom. Mr Albanese's visit has focused on growing economic engagement between the two nations despite concerns over Chinese economic coercion. In his meeting with President Xi Jinping, neither side brought up Australia's plan to tear up a Chinese-owned company's lease of Darwin Port, nor stringent restrictions on Chinese foreign investment in Australia. An article by a Chinese state media-linked influencer published ahead of the meeting suggested Beijing could restrict Australian imports, including iron ore trade valued at more than $100 billion, in response. Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black said business leaders should continue to pursue diversification as an "inherent good in and of itself" as well as increasing links with China. "We want to see more trade, more Australian jobs, and a real future for Australian products in China - from decarbonisation of steel, to beef and rice products - and that was reflected in our discussion here in Beijing," he said. "One in four Australian jobs is trade dependent and so it is vital we increase trade opportunities with all our trading partners, including China." Australia's economic reliance on China was exposed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Beijing imposed restrictions across $20 billion worth of key exports over political grievances with Canberra. At the time, Australia pursued a policy of trade diversification, successfully making up much of the shortfall with increased exports to countries such as Japan, South Korea and India. But since a thaw in relations following Mr Albanese's election in 2022, trade between Australia and China has rebounded. "So from our perspective, we say let's try and have the best possible relationship that we can with China. Let's try and make sure that we can establish trade opportunities that help jobs and businesses back home," Mr Black told reporters in Beijing. "But let's also concentrate on the engagements that we have overseas with countries like the United Arab Emirates, countries like India, countries like those in Southeast Asia." As well as greater collaboration on education and agriculture, the business communique pushed more work in healthcare, resources, and the green economy.
