top of page

Australian PM Albanese meets Xi Jinping in long-awaited China visit


Australian PM Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping have met for talks aimed at easing years of tensions in Beijing.

Mr Albanese, who landed in Shanghai on Saturday, is the first Australian leader to visit China since 2016.

The visit is seen as a key moment in thawing relations, after a string of trade and security disputes.

Trade will top the agenda - Mr Albanese is calling for the removal of Chinese tariffs on Australian goods.


Mr Xi is expected to ask for more access to key Australian sectors.

"What I've said is that we need to co-operate with China where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest," Mr Albanese told reporters in Beijing on Monday, ahead of the meeting.


His trip follows a diplomatic deep freeze prompted by - among other things - Australia's calls for an investigation into the origins of Covid-19, and economic sanctions enacted by Beijing on key Australian exports such as beef, wine and barley.

Comments


bottom of page