Australia and China to resume annual leaders’ talks after years of silence

Anthony Albanese has been labelled a “handsome boy” after a whirlwind trip to China ended in the Prime Minister striking a major deal.

Australia will strengthen its ties with China through the resumption of high-level leaders’ talks and a new visa deal between the two nations.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Chinese Premier Li Qiang agreed they would restart the yearly leaders’ dialogues, a longstanding arrangement that collapsed in tandem with the diplomatic relationship.

The last official annual leaders’ meeting was held in November 2019 when Scott Morrison met Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in Bangkok.

Anthony Albanese met Chinese Premier Li Qiang during his visit to China. Picture: Supplied

Travel between Australia and China will also open up under visas that will last for three to five years to allow for easier business travel and help bring more Chinese tourists and students to the country.

Ahead of the meeting, Mr Albanese was greeted with hundreds of military personnel for an elaborate ceremonial welcome before his meeting with Mr Li on Tuesday.

The Chinese leader told reporters he considered Mr Albanese an “old friend” after meeting him four times in the past year.

He said Mr Albanese’s visit had been circulating widely on Chinese social media, including a video of Mr Albanese running in a yellow jersey that drew the attention of local residents.

“People were saying that we have a handsome boy coming from Australia,” Mr Li told reporters.

Mr Albanese turned heads in his Matildas World Cup jersey during a walk in Shanghai. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Albanese said he welcomed the restoration of leadership talks but also flagged he would continue to push for China to scrap its remaining trade bans on Australian exports.

“Our proximity, our economic complementarities and close people-to-people ties make us important partners now and into the future,” he said.

“That is why the full resumption of free and unimpeded trade between our two countries is so important.”

Mr Albanese (right) received a ceremonial welcome with Chinese Premier Li Qiang (left) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Picture: Twitter

The resumption of leadership talks followed an hour-long meeting between Mr Albanese and President Xi Jinping on Monday, which marked the first visit by an Australian prime minister to China in seven years.

Mr Albanese hailed the conversation as “very successful”, with both leaders discussing human rights, escalation of threats against Taiwan and trade sanctions.

Mr Albanese departed Beijing for the Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands on Tuesday night.