‘Protectionist’: China’s swipe at Trump tariffs in Albo meeting

China is trying to leverage the chaos caused by Donald Trump’s tariffs to create closer ties with Australia, as Beijing’s second-in-charge delivers a warning during talks with Anthony Albanese.

Anthony Albanese has walked along the Great Wall of China echoing the footsteps of his Labor predecessor Gough Whitlam who famously instigated formal relations between Beijing and Canberra.

The Prime Minister paid tribute to Mr Whitlam, who visited the wall in 1973, saying Australia was a beneficiary of the former Labor leader’s decision to recognise the People’s Republic of China

“It’s important that we build stability and security in our world, and part of that has to be positive engagement,” he said.

Mr Albanese joined by his fiancé Jodie Haydon and as the pair surveyed the picturesque landscape, the PM joked “is anyone here a celebrant?” in acknowledgement of the stunning location.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in Beijing. Picture: NewsWire / Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer

During a press conference on the wall, Mr Albanese said Australia was a middle power that was able to “talk with respect around the world”.

Mr Albanese, who spent more than two hours each meeting with Chinese Premier Xi Jinping and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Tuesday, defended his five-day program in China as an opportunity to further build relationships and understanding.

He said engaging on issues that weren’t necessarily “heavily political” was an “important paart of diplomacy”.

“One of the things that my government does in engage in diplomacy ... we don’t shout with megaphones,” he said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese during Tuesday’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Picture: PMO

Following comments from Mr Li that the rise of protectionism in global trade - a thinly veiled reference to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs - meant Australia and China should deepen cooperation, Mr Albanese did not offer a blank cheque on controversial economic issues, such as AI.

“We’ll deal with issues on a case by case basis, based on our national interest as it’s perceived at the time,” he said.

“But as a general principle ... I say the same thing in Beijing as I say in (the Sydney suburb) Bankstown, which is that the Australian Government supports free and fair trade.”

Anthony Albanese shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Picture: Xinhua via AP

On Wednesday, Chinese state media the Global Times fired a broadside at the Albanese Government, criticising its plan to return the Darwin Port lease to Australian ownership.

But Mr Albanese revealed neither Mr Li or Mr Xi raised concerns with the port issue with him during their talks.

The roundtable came after Mr Albanese met with Chinese President Xi Jinping who also appeared to be referencing Mr Trump’s tariff efforts when he said Australia and China should commit to “equal treatment” and continue to grow positive relations “no matter how the international landscape may evolve”.

After meeting with Mr Xi, Mr Albanese said he communicated Australia’s support for fair and free trade, but that Mr Trump and his tariffs was not directly discussed.

Originally published as ‘Protectionist’: China’s swipe at Trump tariffs in Albo meeting