Albo fires back on China trip claim

Yahoo

7 days ago

Anthony Albanese has hit back against the Coalition's criticism of his 'indulgent' trip to China, accusing them of 'constant negativity' and a failure to acknowledge the importance of Australia's 'most important trading partner'.
Liberal frontbencher James Paterson earlier said the Prime Minister's six-day trip was 'starting to look a little bit indulgent,' which he described as 'a Gough Whitlam history tour on the Great Wall of China' and questioned whether 'a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas, and whether a hit of tennis is strictly necessary'.
'I hope it's not for the Prime Minister's personal enjoyment,' Senator Paterson told Sky News on Thursday.
'I mean, the appropriate time to do a nostalgic history tour of Labor Party mythology is after you retire, in your own time, at your own expense, not on the taxpayer dime.'
Sussan Ley also said she was 'disappointed' Mr Albanese 'didn't get the assurances that he should' about circumnavigation of Chinese navy warships in Australia, or the live firing exercises which were done without advanced notice.
Asked for his response to the comment during a press conference in the city of Chengdu, Mr Albanese rejected the claims.
'I think the opposition have got some issues they need to sort out within themselves, including over the relationship with China,' he told reporters.
He said China was Australia's 'most important trading partner', with one in four Australian jobs dependent on the relationship, and reiterated the importance of a stable relationship.
'They've just had an election result because in part, they themselves have characterised it as their constant negativity' and said the trip had been 'very successful'.
'They need to stop looking for reasons to say they're against and decide what they're for.'
Mr Albanese also described Chinese President Xi Jinping as 'warm and engaging' and said China was a 'confident,' 'creative' and 'dynamic' country.
Mr Albanese said he wanted to see Australia and China establish a 'stronger relationship' with 'more agreement and less disagreement' over the next three years, while acknowledging the two countries had different political systems, cultures and values.
'We have different values. So we understand that,' he said.
'What I'd like to see is to be able to talk about those issues regularly, get as much agreement as possible, but understanding of where our nations are coming from, out of understanding, can come greater co-operation.'
Speaking after the press conference, Coalition education spokesman Jonno Duniam said while it was important to show 'deference to your host,' he questioned the value of the trip.
'We have our prime minister there on a multi-day trip, a range of high-level meetings with very little in the way of outcomes that can be perceived back here home in Australia,' he told Sky News.
'At the same time, we've got drills occurring in Taipei for potential and perhaps eventual invasion by Chinese forces of Taiwan's territory there.
'There's a lot of water to go under the bridge, but I'm failing to see the benefits of what you've don, or what will come from this visit.'