China will include Australia in its visa waiver programme, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said after meeting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Canberra, the latest sign of warming relations between the two countries, Chinese media reported.
Li said through a translator:
“We agreed to provide each other with reciprocal access to five-year multiple entry visas for tourism, business and visiting family members. China will also include Australia in its visa waiver programme.”
No details were provided on how the programme would work. However, a similar announcement in May allowed 12 countries – mostly from Europe but also including Malaysia – to enter China without visas for up to 15 days for business, tourism or visiting family and friends.
Speaking after the annual leaders’ meeting with Albanese on Monday, Li said China and Australia would deepen co-operation in energy, mining and climate change, adding that they had a “frank” conversation about the differences between the two governments.
After the meeting, Australia and China signed five agreements in various fields including education, cultural exchanges and trade.
China imposed trade sanctions against Australia in 2020 in response to Canberra’s exclusion of Huawei from its 5G network, the introduction of new foreign interference laws and support for an international investigation into the origins of Covid-19.
The countries’ relations have warmed since 2022, when the centre-left Albanese government came to power in Australia. The new government has adopted a less harsh diplomatic tone, unlike its conservative predecessor.
Last November, Prime Minister Albanese was ceremoniously welcomed to Beijing. President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China promised with a smile that Australia and China could become “trusted partners”.
