President Xi Jinping meets Australian PM in Beijing to bolster trade ties
發佈日期: 2025-07-15 19:48
TVB News
Visiting Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met President Xi Jinping in Beijing today.
The leaders asserted the importance of international trade amid U.S. tariff upheaval and sought to bolster economic ties.
Albanese said his country supports the "status quo" when it comes to Taiwan, reaffirming Canberra's commitment to the one-China principle.
Albanese's week-long China trip began in Shanghai where government and business leaders from the two countries focused on tourism and iron ore exports.
This afternoon, China's top leader, Xi Jinping, sat down with Albanese in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and welcomed an improvement in bilateral relations since what he termed "the setback."
Xi stressed mutual trust and noted that with joint efforts, China-Australia ties have achieved transformation and brought real benefits to the two peoples.
This overall direction should be upheld unswervingly, no matter how the international landscape may evolve, Xi said, as he underlined the necessity of seeking common ground while setting aside differences in the pursuit of mutually beneficial cooperation.
Albanese said: "It is my pleasure to meet with you again here today. Australia values our relationship with China and will continue to approach it in a calm and consistent manner."
To further boost economic relations, both governments have agreed to review the China-Australia free trade pact, which enters its tenth year, and explore potential cooperation in de-carbonisation.
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Albanese said Australia's trade relationship with China is separate from its handling of U.S. tariffs.
He admitted there is strategic competition in the Asia-Pacific region, and said his administration will continue to engage in order to support regional peace and security.
Albanese said: "My government's approach to our relationship with China is patient, is calibrated and is deliberate. And it is aimed at cooperating wherever we can, disagreeing where we must but engaging in our national interest. Given that, one in four of Australian jobs depends upon trade, and given that China is overwhelmingly by far the largest trading partner that Australia has, it is very much in the interest of Australian jobs and the Australian economy to have a positive and constructive relationship with China."
Albanese contended he will keep the dialogue open to advance national interests, manage differences, and guard against misunderstanding.
As for Beijing's live-fire naval drills in the Tasman Sea in February, Xi said China engaged in exercises just as Australia does. Albanese said there was no breach of international law by China but he would have liked more notice.
The Australian prime minister will head to Chengdu as the next stop of his tour.
