The foreign ministers of China and Australia discussed “stable, constructive bilateral relations on the eve of the summit.
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Monday. Albanese arrived in China to attend the Sixth China International Import Expo, a global event attended by leaders of a number of foreign countries. Ahead of the meeting between Xi and Albanese, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong met with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing.
Gough Whitlam’s historic visit to China in 1973 laid the groundwork for the diplomatic ties that link the people of Australia and China together to this day. Today the Prime Minister and I retraced his steps with a visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Senator Penny Wong (@SenatorWong) November 6, 2023
Wong said on X, following her meeting with Wang:
“I discussed the sound progress Australia and China have made towards a more stable and constructive bilateral relationship. The wise navigation of differences is an important element of strengthening our relationship.”
Today, Albanese and Wong have visited the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. Albanese said on X:
“It is 50 years since Gough Whitlam became the first Australian Prime Minister to visit China.”
Anthony Albanese is the first Australian leader to visit China since 2016. The Australian prime minister noted:
“Since he (Gough Whitlam) visited the Temple of Heaven in Beijing much has changed. But what is constant is that engagement between our two countries remains important.”
Albanese was accompanied by Wong, who said Whitlam’s “historic visit” in 1973 “laid the foundation for the diplomatic relationship that binds the people of Australia and China to this day”. She said:
“Today, Albanese and I retraced his steps with a visit to the Temple of Heaven in Beijing.”
Bilateral trade between Australia and China is worth about $231.2 billion.
Before travelling to China, Albanese visited Washington, where President Joe Biden warned the Australian leader to “trust but verify” anything Beijing tells him during the trip.
Monday’s talks were the second meeting between Albanese and Xi after they chatted on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Indonesia in November 2022. The Australian leader is in China until 7 November, after which he will fly to the Cook Islands to attend the Pacific Islands Forum.
Relations between Australia and China have improved since the election of the centre-left Albanese Labor government in May 2022. High-level ministerial meetings have resumed and restrictions on imports of Australian coal, timber and barley have been lifted.
