BEIJING: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is visiting China from Saturday to next Friday – spanning Shanghai’s glittering financial hub, high-level political meeting in Beijing, and cultural exchanges in Chengdu – which is expected to benefit businesses and the wider sectors in both countries.
The visit, Albanese’s second as prime minister and his first since being reelected in May, carried particular weight as it coincided with the beginning of the second decade of China-Australia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
A Chinese expert believes the visit could serve as a “springboard to propel the bilateral relationship to a higher level,” noting this tour is not merely a reciprocal visit after Premier Li’s trip to Australia last year but underscores Albanese’s high prioritization of China-Australia relations.
Another Chinese expert pointed out Sunday that the international context has changed between Albanese’s two visits to China in 2023 and this time considering Washington has undergone a transition of power between its two major political parties with the current US government emphasizing “American First” with little regard for allies’ interests. Under this context, the Australian government appears to prioritize relations with China more than before to safeguard its own interests and stabilize economic ties.
“Here I’ve brought a whole range of businesses with us from resources sector, tourism and education. All engaging with China in a constructive way to boost our economic benefit. Engaging with China is in our interest to build a stable and secure region,” Albanese said in a video he posted on X on Sunday with Shanghai’s landmark buildings as the background.
Albanese said in the video that one in four of Australia’s jobs depends upon free and fair trade and the biggest export partner of Australia is China.
According to Jiefang Daily, Chen Jining, secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Com-munist Party of China, met with Albanese on Sunday in Shanghai. Chen introduced him with the eco-nomic and social development situation of Shanghai and expressed hope to enhance complementary advantages, continuously expand cooperation space around trade and investment, green transfor-mation, scientific and technological innovation, and better promote cultural exchanges and friendly personnel exchanges.
Chen also extends invitation to more Australian enterprises to invest and expand businesses in Shang-hai.
Albanese said Australia values its comprehensive strategic partnership with China and looks forward to taking this visit as an opportunity to deepen practical cooperation and exchanges in various fields, promote the improvement of bilateral relations, jointly address global challenges such as climate change, and actively promote global trade development.
The prime minister called Shanghai a vibrant and thriving international metropolis. He said he hopes to further strengthen economic and trade cooperation, jointly promote green and low-carbon develop-ment, deepen cooperation and exchanges in areas such as culture, education, tourism and elderly care, better enhance mutual understanding and bring benefits to the people of both countries, ac-cording to Jiefang Daily.
According to Australian media reports on Sunday, football and tourism have been the focus of Al-banese’s first full day in China.
The Canberra Times reported Sunday that former Socceroo Kevin Muscat joined Albanese on a morn-ing walk along Shanghai’s historic Bund promenade on Sunday to promote the two nations’ people-to-people links.
Now coaching Shanghai Port FC, Muscat last year became the first Australian manager to lead a Chi-nese Super League team to the premiership, the report said.
According to the news release by the official website of the Australian prime minister, Albanese said when meeting with Muscat that “One of the things about Australia and China going forward is that we build the people-to-people relationships.”
According to Australian media, Albanese oversaw the signing of a memorandum of understanding be-tween Trip.com and Tourism Australia, and previewed an ad campaign to air in China starring local film star Yu Shi and Ruby the Roo, an animated kangaroo voiced by Rose Byrne.
Data from Tourism Research Australia shows that China is Australia’s second largest inbound market, having reached 56 percent of pre-pandemic levels in FY2023-24. The total spent by Chinese visitors was $7.4 billion for FY2023-24.
“Not only is Australia’s beef, barley, red wine and lobster the best in the world – we’re the best place in the world to come for a holiday,” AAP quoted Albanese as saying. “Expanding our tourism relationship with China will mean more jobs for Australians and a boost to Australian businesses.”
The news release of Australian prime minister’s official website also disclosed the following agenda during Albanese’s China visit – on Monday, he is scheduled to have a business roundtable as well from businesses around Australia who’ve travelled up to be here and led by the Business Council of Austral-ia.
Chen Hong, a professor and director of the Australian Studies Center at East China Normal University, told the Global Times on Sunday that the itinerary of Albanese – spanning Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu – signals Australia’s desire to move beyond diplomatic formalities and engage with China’s broader landscape. “As I see it, this is a ‘Big hello’ to the vast population of China,” the expert re-marked.
Given that Washington has undergone a transition of power between its two major political parties, Yu Lei, a professor from the Department of International Politics and Economics at Shandong University, told the Global Times on Sunday that the mindset behind this China visit by Albanese differs markedly from the previous one – where the goal was to halt deterioration and stabilize relations, this visit aims to expand cooperation and further boost ties.
Both experts emphasized the significance of the tourism and people-to-people exchanges between China and Australia. They also believe new growth areas for cooperation include agriculture, pharma-ceuticals, new energy, and advanced materials – all presenting significant potential for expanded col-laboration.
“Tourism isn’t just an economic matter – it’s an asset for mutual understanding, trust-building, and co-operation, ultimately fostering mutual benefits. Advancing tourism and education can deepen bilateral ties,” Chen said.
Data shows that China has been Australia’s largest trading partner, export destination and source of imports for 16 consecutive years, serving as a critical export destination for Australian products ranging from iron ore and energy resources to agricultural products and seafood.
Zhou Fangyin, professor of the School of International Relations at Sun Yat-sen University, told the Global Times on Sunday that “As an ally of the US, Australia has not blindly followed the US but instead adopted a pragmatic approach to cooperation with China. This sends a positive signal against the back-drop of complex and volatile geopolitical landscape.”
Amid the US’ tariffs imposed on its allies including Australia, Albanese’s visit also demonstrates the benefits of stable economic and trade cooperation with China to Australia’s own economy, Zhou said. –The Daily Mail-Global Times news exchange item
