After years of diplomatic ice age, Chinese head of state Xi Jinping welcomed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. As reported by the state news agency Xinhua, the two politicians met today in Beijing.
At the beginning of the conversation, Albanese praised the “undoubtedly very positive” progress in relations between the two countries. The head of government said we need to work with China “where we can” and “disagree where necessary”.
Image Portal/AAP/Lukas Coch
Trade “flows more freely”
Addressing Xi, the Australian leader said that since the two met on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Indonesia last year, “trade has flowed more freely, to the benefit of both our countries”.
The meeting in Beijing is “an opportunity to explore how we can further expand cooperation between our two countries,” Albanese said.
Despite the rapprochement under Albanian command, the head of government said he would maintain a “clear view” of the differences between the countries. It is the first visit to China by an Australian head of government in more than seven years.