15-07-2025
Chinese Premier Li Qiang issues veiled warning on Chinese business treatment as Albanese says Darwin Port not discussed with President Xi
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has sent a thinly veiled warning to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese after he held back from raising the politically charged Darwin Port issue with President Xi Jinping.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has delivered a thinly veiled warning to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese over treatment of Chinese businesses in Australia.
His comments come after the Albanese government committed to reviewing Chinese firm Landbridge's 99-year lease of the Port of Darwin.
At a meeting attended by Mr Albanese and business leaders, Premier Li urged Australia to 'treat Chinese enterprises fairly' and 'properly resolve the issues of market access'.
'I trust Australia will treat Chinese enterprise fairly and properly resolve issues regarding market access and investment review,' he said.
'Economic globalisation has encountered headwinds. Trade frictions continue to increase.
'We hope that you will embrace openness and co-operation, no matter how the world changes.
'You should be promoters of economic and trade co-operation so that our two countries will better draw on each other's strengths and grow together.'
Mr Albanese declared during the federal election campaign that Landbridge must sell the port voluntarily or it would be forcibly acquired by government.
The issue has upset the Chinese government—and Ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian said it would be an 'ethically questionable' move by the Albanese government.
However, Mr Albanese confirmed during his press conference that the Port of Darwin issue was not raised during his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
'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.
'I've had the same position for a decade, since the Liberal Government chose to provide an incentive to the Northern Territory Liberal Government to flog off an asset.'
The Prime Minister's blunt response came amid sustained domestic pressure over whether the federal government intends to intervene in the lease.
The lease was granted by the NT government to Landbridge in 2015, but has remained politically sensitive over the past decade due to concerns about Chinese influence. — Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 15, 2025
Australia, which regards the United States as its major security ally, has pursued a China policy of 'cooperate where we can, disagree where we must' under Mr Albanese.
Mr Albanese's six-day, three-city visit comes as a major test case for Beijing's attempts to capitalise on US President Donald Trump's global trade war.
China has since sought to respond to President Trump's tariffs by presenting itself as a stable and reliable partner.
President Xi called on both countries to safeguard free trade in a readout of his meeting with Mr Albanese published by state media.
While Mr Albanese repeatedly voiced his support for free trade and more dialogue with China, the first day of senior meetings ended without any new major trade deals.
'Dialogue is how we advance our interests, how we manage our differences and we guard against misunderstanding,' Mr Albanese said on Tuesday night.
He also said a decade-old free trade agreement with China, Australia's largest trade partner, would be reviewed.
The two countries agreed to a new Policy Dialogue on Steel Decarbonisation that will give Australia insight into Chinese government planning.
They also signed agreements on tourism, customs inspections, and agriculture, the statement said.
