Anthony Albanese has landed in China to strengthen 'economic partnership' as US pushes Australia to outline Taiwan conflict role
Prime Minister Albanese arrived in China late on Saturday evening, beginning a six-day-long trip that will include a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
Mr Albanese said it was 'wonderful' to be back in China as he spruiked the benefits of improved relations with the Chinese Communist Party ruled stated.
'We know that one in four of Australia's jobs depends on our exports, and China is our major trading partner, with exports to China being worth more in value than the next four countries combined,' the Prime Minister said on arrival.
'This week, we will have important meetings about tourism, about decarbonisation of steel, about the full range of issues.'
Speaking on Sky News Australia's Sunday Agenda, Treasurer Jim Chalmers said there 'couldn't be a more important time' to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, noting it was 'full of opportunity but not short of complexity either'.
'These meetings between Prime Minister Albanese and President Xi and Premier Li CEOs and businesses from both sides of the relationship are a really important
'It recognises that China is a big part of our prosperity that makes it a big and important, obvious focus of our economic diplomacy, and that's what the Prime Minister's visit is all about.
The federal Treasurer said the government wanted to strengthen relations with China because it was 'in the interests of our economy, our workers, our businesses, our investors.
'I think around a third of our exports go to China, so it is a really crucial part of our prosperity and a big focus of our diplomacy,' he said.
The Prime Minister's meeting with President Xi will be the fourth since the 2022 federal election.
It comes in stark contrast to his failure to schedule a meeting with US President Donald Trump since he returned to office.
Mr Albanese arrived in China as the UK's Financial Times revealed a key Pentagon official has been demanding Australia and Japan outline the role they would play if a conflict between the US and China broke out over Taiwan.
US under-secretary of defence for policy Elbridge Colby, a sceptic of providing Australia with the nuclear submarines, who is currently leading a review into the AUKUS agreement, reportedly been pushing the issue in meetings officials from both countries in recent months.
Publicly outlining the role Australia would play would signal an end to the policy of 'strategic ambiguity' both Australia and the United States have towards Taiwan.
Mr Colby responded to the reports in a post on X, claiming he was implementing the President's agenda of 'restoring deterrence and achieving peace through strength', adding that it included 'urging allies to step up their defense spending and other efforts related to our collective defense'.
'This has been a hallmark of President Trump's strategy - in Asia as in Europe where it has already been tremendously successful,' he said.
'Of course, some among our allies might not welcome frank conversations. But many, now led by NATO after the historic Hague Summit, are seeing the urgent need to step up and are doing so.'
'President Trump has shown the approach and the formula - and we will not be deterred from advancing his agenda.'
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