(Bloomberg) — Prime Minister will make history as the first Australian leader to meet with President in China in over seven years on Monday, marking a significant milestone in the recovery of diplomatic relations between the two nations.
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Albanese arrived in Beijing on Sunday following his visit to Shanghai, where he attended the China International Import Expo and delivered a speech highlighting the “mature relationship” between China and Australia.
In Beijing, Albanese expressed his anticipation for the meetings and his belief in the potential for a constructive relationship between the two countries.
“We need to collaborate with China where possible, respectfully disagree when necessary, and prioritize our national interests,” he stated. Albanese also emphasized the value of direct communication in building this constructive relationship with Xi.
Prior to his visit to China, Albanese had visited Washington, where President Joe Biden cautioned him to “trust, but verify” any information relayed by Beijing during his trip.
This meeting will be the second between Albanese and Xi, following their discussions on the sidelines of the Group of 20 meetings in Indonesia in November 2022. Albanese’s visit to China will conclude on November 7, after which he will travel to the Cook Islands for the Pacific Islands Forum.
The election of Albanese’s center-left Labor government in May 2022 has contributed to the improvement of relations between Australia and China. High-level ministerial meetings have resumed, and restrictions on Australian coal, timber, and barley imports have been lifted.
Prior to the Prime Minister’s visit, China released Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who had been detained for over three years. However, writer Yang Hengjun remains in custody since his arrest in 2019. His family has appealed to Albanese to advocate for his release due to concerns about his health.
–With assistance from Michael Heath and James Mayger.
(Updates with comments from PM Albanese from third paragraph.)
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