Pictures from Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s 2014 Australia visit show how relationship has deteriorated

This picture highlighted one of Australia’s best relationships with international leaders at the time, now it shows how far it has collapsed.

November 19, 2014.

China’s President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan wave as they prepare to depart Sydney.

Little did any one know at the time just how much would change, with the state of affairs currently seeing the Chinese government rejecting Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s claim that President Xi had an “open invitation” to restart political talks between the pair.

In 2014, though, President Xi visited Sydney following the G20 Leaders Summit in Brisbane and the signing of a landmark trade deal between Australia and China in Canberra.

With then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott waving farewell, President Xi declared the visit “a remarkable few days for the life of our country”.

In fact the visit was so successful, in a farewell speech to President Xi, Mr Abbott boldly claimed: “Today Team China is here to meet with Team Australia.”

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China's President Xi Jinping and his wife Madame Peng Liyuan have not returned to Australia since. Picture: Dan Himbrechts

Xi Jinping and Australia's then-Prime Minister Tony Abbott shake hands on stage after they both addressed the Australia China state and provincial leaders forum in Sydney. Picture: Jason Reed

The free trade agreement axed tariffs in the resources and agricultural sectors, with President Xi becoming just the second Chinese leader to address the federal parliament. His father, Xi Zhongxun, was the first in 1979.

“What we have achieved is unimaginable back over two decades ago,” President Xi said at the time.

“My personal experience has given me the impression that earth-shaking changes have taken place in this relationship and what we have achieved is unimaginable two decades ago.

“I am really satisfied with my visit and I firmly believe this visit will provide strong momentum for our bilateral relations.

Xi Jinping (L) and Peng Liyuan as they arrive in Sydney on Tuesday, Nov. 18. Picture: AAP Image/Peter Parks

Considering the gargantuan trade deal signed between the countries, Mr Abbott claimed: “Not only did we sign a historical trade agreement but President Xi made one of the most magnificent speeches ever heard in our parliament,” he said, referencing President Xi’s speech where he reflected on Australia and China’s “common humanity, common dreams, common aspirations … and a better world we all wish to build.”

“I personally felt very privileged to have spent so much time with President Xi and to have felt so much warmth with him,” Mr Abbott said, claiming the visit made for some of the most remarkable memories of his life.

President Xi Jinping meets school children at Hobart International Airport.

Chinese President Xi Jinping's wife Madame Peng Liyuan speaks with staff during a visit to Ravenswood School for Girls in Sydney. Picture: AAP/ Rob Griffith

Earlier that day, in a room at the Four Season Hotel packed with some of Australia’s top leaders at the time — WA Premier Colin Barnett, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and NSW Premier Mike Baird — President Xi said the visit and trade deal was a “new milestone in relations” and a “golden opportunity”.

President Xi even complimented South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill on the state’s Penfolds wines.

It’s far cry from the trade tariffs on wine that China slapped on the country in December last year. A far cry from China labelling Australia a “nuclear threat” and a “nuclear target” overnight.

Xi Jinping shakes hands with then-New South Wales Premier Mike Baird during the meeting in Sydney. Picture: AAP/ Daniel Munoz

Xi Jinping, (centre), thanks members of the NSW Police motorcycle escort as he departs Sydney. Picture: AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts

In fact no one could have foretold the deterioration in the relationship was to come. Especially not Mr Abbott: “I know Australia will benefit from these days; I think China will benefit from these days; I hope the world with benefit from these days,” he said in 2014.

Over the years to come, the expansion of Chinese naval territory and artificial islands in the South China Sea and President Xi’s determination to stay on indefinitely with talk of unifying mainland China and Taiwan before he leaves office became a “worrying footnote”, Professor Greg Barton, a security expert from Deakin University, told the ABC.

“In a sense that happened while we were napping,” he said, claiming the West’s focus on the Afghanistan war let China slip through the cracks.

Fast forward seven years, and a new deal between Australia, the US and UK has shattered relations between China after a slow deterioration.

President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Tony Abbott look on as China's Administrator of the State Oceanic Administration Liu Ciqui and Australia's then-Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt (R) sign a Memorandum of Understanding during a showcase of Australian-Chinese Antarctic cooperation in Hobart during his visit. Picture: AAP/William West

The three countries announced a “forever partnership” would focus on the increasingly tense situation in the Indo-Pacific and would involve Australia acquiring nuclear-powered submarines and more advanced military tech, including long-range Tomahawk cruise missiles.

The deal, according to experts, shows a dramatic political shift between alliances.

“It just shows how much China’s relations with other key countries have collapsed in recent times,” the BBC’s Stephen McDonell said.

“In a way, Australia is kind of the poster boy for the failure of China’s soft power.

“It seems like yesterday that Xi Jinping was in Australia going to the football, wearing a scarf, now you have Australia saying it’s going to build nuclear powered submarines.”

On Thursday night, China continued its angry response to the monumental and historic security pact signed by Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

In a scathing rebuke on Thursday evening, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian labelled the US “extremely irresponsible” and rejected Prime Minister Scott Morrison’s claim that Chinese leader Xi Jinping had an “open invitation” to restart political talks between the pair.

“Morrison’s ambition could bring destructive consequences to his country if a nuclear war breaks out,” China fired back in a Global Times editorial.

This time, there aren’t a cavalcade of supporters banging drums and waving the Chinese flags.

The scenes that farewelled President Xi as he exited the Four Seasons Hotel and climbed the stairs to wave goodbye on his flight home, calling for closer ties between Australia’s states and China’s provinces, are but a distant memory.

“I firmly believe that we need to further promote relations at the state and provincial level,” President Xi said.

“I hope that you could seize the opportunity, maintain an advantage, advance with the times and focus on development strategies of both countries.”

Originally published as Pictures from Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s 2014 Australia visit show how relationship has deteriorated