Xi Jinping tells Anthony Albanese China-Australia ties are now ‘on the right path’
- Chinese leader meets Albanese in Beijing as both sides aim to mend strained relations
- Xi takes aim at ‘attempts to destabilise the Asia-Pacific region’, without mentioning Aukus or the Quad security alliances
Beijing and Canberra should be “partners of mutual trust and fulfilment”, Chinese President Xi Jinping told visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during the first trip to China by an Australian leader since 2016.
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China-Australia relations ‘on the right path’, Xi Jinping tells Anthony Albanese on Beijing visit
Albanese was joined by Trade Minister Don Farrell during the four-day visit in what was seen as a trade-focused effort to restore relations strained by disputes over Chinese telecoms firm Huawei, espionage and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Xi said bilateral ties had now “embarked on the right path of improvement and development”, adding that exchanges had resumed and some problems had been worked out, according to state broadcaster CCTV.
“The two countries have no historical grudges or fundamental conflicts of interest,” Xi said.
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Anthony Albanese becomes first Australian prime minister to visit China in 7 years
“China and Australia should follow the trend of the times and build a China-Australia relationship based on the common interests of the two countries, in which we treat each other as equals, seek common ground while reserving opinions over differences, and engage in mutually beneficial cooperation.”
