Credit: <\/span>AAP<\/cite><\/p>\nYears of estrangement over human rights, national security and a campaign of economic coercion hit Australian businesses with $20 billion in trade strikes following the border closures at the start of the COVID pandemic in 2020.<\/p>\n
Xi told Albanese the two countries had worked out some \u201cproblems\u201d in recent times and said he wanted to continue a comprehensive strategic partnership with Australia – a key phrase indicating Chinese hopes for greater agreement.<\/p>\n
\u201cAfter taking office, you\u2019ve been working to stabilise and improve relations with China. This visit shows the great importance you attach to relations with China,\u201d Xi said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m heartened to see that.<\/p>\n
\u201cA healthy and stable China Australia relationship serves the common interests of our two countries and two peoples. It also meets the common expectation of countries in our region. It is important that we keep moving forward with a comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
Albanese told Xi that over time, the progress in the relationship had been \u201cunquestionably very positive\u201d for both countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cI believe that we can all benefit from a greater understanding of China,\u201d he said. \u201cWhere differences arise it is important that we have communication. From communication comes understanding.\u201d<\/p>\n
Albanese said the leaders agreed that they would take the relationship forward after a tumultuous four years of hostility: \u201cWe have restarted a range of dialogues and the tempo of bilateral visits is increasing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The talks between Xi and Albanese followed a highly sensitive time in relations between the two governments.<\/p>\n
China has fiercely opposed Australia\u2019s AUKUS pact on nuclear-powered submarines with the United States and the United Kingdom, while trying to exert its influence in the South Pacific and claiming disputed territory in the South China Sea.<\/p>\n
In broader talks to manage strategic differences in the region, Xi will meet US President Joe Biden at a regional summit in San Francisco next week.<\/p>\n
The prime minister\u2019s discussions with Xi were delayed on Monday night by a flurry of meetings in the Great Hall of the People, including talks between Xi and Cuban Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Albanese also met the third most powerful leader in China, Zhao Leji, the chairman of the National People\u2019s Congress for talks before the meeting with the president.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
Chairman of the National People\u2019s Congress Zhao Leji greets Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Monday. <\/span>Credit: <\/span>AAP <\/cite><\/p>\nIn a very positive message, Zhao called the China visit a \u201cnew start\u201d in the relationship.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow we\u2019re at a new starting point,\u201d he told the prime minister.<\/p>\n
\u201cChina is ready to work with Australia to improve, maintain and develop our relations, to enhance mutual trust, strengthen exchanges, expand cooperation, consolidate the friendship, so as to deliver greater benefits to our two countries and peoples.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier, Foreign Minister Penny Wong met her Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, over a private lunch before she joined the meeting with Albanese and Xi.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/static.ffx.io\/images\/$zoom_0.105%2C$multiply_0.7725%2C$ratio_1.5%2C$width_756%2C$x_0%2C$y_0\/t_crop_custom\/q_86%2Cf_auto\/e1a584f95d8b9228673b769f5693df0516566bfb\")
<\/p>\n
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong visited the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on Monday, touring the temple grounds with the Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian.<\/span>Credit: <\/span>AAP<\/cite><\/p>\nAlbanese warned of \u201cstrategic competition\u201d from the rise of China but emphasised the gains for Australia in the economic relationship, a key agenda in his talks with the country\u2019s top three leaders this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m convinced that we\u2019re building a relationship that\u2019s constructive – one where we\u2019re able to talk with each other directly,\u201d he said of his dealings with Xi.<\/p>\n
Albanese is the first Australian prime minister to meet Xi in the Chinese capital since 2016 and arrived two weeks after a visit to the United States, where President Joe Biden said \u201ctrust but verify\u201d should be the approach to dealing with China.<\/p>\n
Asked twice whether he trusted Xi, the prime minister indicated the Chinese president had been a man of his word in their dealings to date, but was reluctant to use the term.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have different political systems, but the engagement that I\u2019ve had with China, with President Xi, have been positive. They have been constructive,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe has never said anything to me that has not been done, and that\u2019s a positive way that you have to start off dealing with people. We recognise as well that we come with different political systems, very different values arising from that, and different histories.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut we deal with each other at face value.\u201d<\/p>\n
The prime minister retraced the steps of his Labor predecessor Gough Whitlam on Monday morning, visiting the Temple of Heaven in Beijing as the former Labor leader did in 1973 and emphasising the historic return of an Australian leader to the Chinese capital.<\/p>\n
Flanked by Wong, the prime minister toured the temple grounds with the Chinese ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian.<\/p>\n
Speaking to reporters after the temple visit, Albanese restated his government\u2019s support for the AUKUS alliance on nuclear-powered submarines with the US and the United Kingdom despite fierce objections from China.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re committed to AUKUS and we\u2019re busy implementing it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s what I mean by dealing with people honestly, upfront. We\u2019ve been upfront about our engagement.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe think that AUKUS is in Australia\u2019s national interest. We also think that AUKUS is a vehicle to promote security, peace and stability in the region.\u201d<\/p>\n
Asked about China\u2019s stated goal of reunification with Taiwan despite the island state\u2019s objections, Albanese said the government supported the status quo.<\/p>\n
In a key message to voters about the importance of his visit, Albanese pointed to the 250 Australian exporters at a Shanghai trade fair this week to emphasise the economic gains from his visit.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was with 250 Australian businesses. That\u2019s about Australian jobs, that has an impact on our economy, that has an impact on inflation. It has an impact,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re a trading nation. This is very much in Australia\u2019s national interest for us to be engaged, just as it was in Australia\u2019s national interest for me to be engaged in the United States.\u201d<\/p>\n
Xiao, the Chinese ambassador, said there was \u201cno historical grudge between China and Australia,\u201d despite the years of diplomatic tension between the two countries.<\/p>\n
\u201cNor is there any fundamental conflict of interest,\u201d he said. \u201cThe two countries can become mutually beneficial partners.\u201d<\/p>\n
Cut through the noise of federal politics with news, views and expert analysis from Jacqueline Maley. Subscribers can sign up to our weekly Inside Politics newsletter here.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\nMost Viewed in Politics<\/h2>\nFrom our partners<\/h3>\n
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