Australian Prime Minister's 'ice-breaking' visit to China

Speaking before leaving for Beijing, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese assessed the visit as a "very positive step" in stabilizing the tense bilateral relationship.

He also stressed that this was the result of a patient and measured approach. During his four-day visit to China, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is expected to attend China's largest import fair in Shanghai and will meet President Xi Jinping early next week.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese President Xi Jinping. (Photo: News.com.au)

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's visit to China also carries symbolic significance as it comes exactly 50 years after former Australian Prime Minister Whitlam's historic visit to China in 1973.

Since taking power in 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has adjusted his approach to China, seeking friendlier ties with Australia’s largest trading partner while countering Beijing’s growing influence in the Pacific. After a period of heightened tensions in 2020, China has removed most trade barriers between the two countries.

According to Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin, China is willing to cooperate with Australia and sees Prime Minister Albanese's visit as an opportunity to expand cooperation and promote relations.

“The Chinese leaders will meet with Prime Minister Albanese to exchange views on bilateral relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern. China and Australia are comprehensive strategic partners with profound common interests and broad prospects for cooperation.

"The China-Australia relationship is in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, and is beneficial to peace and stability in the region and the world," Mr. Uong Van Binh emphasized.

For Beijing, the Australian leader’s visit offers an opportunity to gain greater access to Australia’s resources and renewable energy sector. Beijing may also seek Australia’s support to accelerate its accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).

However, a series of tensions are also expected to overshadow the visit, with China increasingly wary of growing security ties between Australia and the United States amid deepening US-China rivalry.

According to analysts, when aiming to mend relations with China, Mr. Albanese will also need to draw a line between the benefits of this relationship and the alliances that this country is participating in such as AUKUS with the US and the UK or the Quad Diamond with the US, India and Japan.

Thu Hoai (Source: VOV.VN)

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