Anthony Albanese pays homage to Gough Whitlam on Great Wall of China with Jodie Haydon
Anthony Albanese has visited the Great Wall of China with his fiancee Jodie Haydon where he paid homage to Gough Whitlam, who walked the same path more than 50 years ago.
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Clear skies welcome Anthony Albanese as he ascends the first steps onto the Great Wall of China in a historic visit, walking in the footsteps of his Labor predecessor Gough Whitlam.
Paying homage to Mr Whitlam, who visited the wall more than 50 years ago after he first formally recognised the People’s Republic of China as Labor leader, Mr Albanese said that decision had greatly benefited Australia.
Earlier in Shanghai, the PM had spoken to business leaders at the city’s famous Peace Hotel – which also happens to be where, Mr Whitlam spent is 55th birthday during his historic 1971 visit.
Mr Albanese’s diplomatic and trade achievements as leader aren’t exactly in the same league as being known as the godfather of the Australia-China relationship, but he seems happy for observers to make comparisons to his broader approach.
The spectacular 21,000km sprawling ancient wall is a symbol of China’s longevity and, during a press conference atop the landmark, Mr Albanese is eager to play up the symbolism of his visit.
And his deference has not gone unnoticed, with Chinese state media heaping praise on the PM during this trip.
Following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Global Times said the China-Australia relationship is “like a plane flying in the stratosphere”.
That bright assessment despite the same outlet publishing a scathing attack on Labor for its plan to return the Darwin Port to Australian hands.
It highlights how Mr Albanese is negotiating with a far more complex relationship than the one Mr Whitlam likely envisaged when he first engaged with China in the hope the opening up of the country would also lead to its democratisation.
This was acknowledged by Mr Albanese, who said simply the “world is different” to the one Mr Whitlam was a leader in.
“What the role of a leader is to adjust to the world as it is rather than as you would like it to be,” he said.
As throngs of Chinese tourists climbed up the steep walls, a small section was temporarily closed to the public for security around the PM’s visit.
A local guide eagerly explained the various aspects of the wall to Mr Albanese and his fiancee Jodie Haydon.
While surveying the picturesque view with Ms Haydon, Mr Albanese joked to the Australian delegation “is anyone here a celebrant?”.
But, for now, the only engagement on his mind is of the diplomatic variety with one final stop on his itinerary, this time following the Labor great Bob Hawke who was the last Australian PM to visit the city of Chengdu in 1986. Symbolic indeed.
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Originally published as Anthony Albanese pays homage to Gough Whitlam on Great Wall of China with Jodie Haydon
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