Xi and Albanese tout best China-Australia relations since 2014 as China tries to Trump-proof itself
The Chinese President launched an uncharacteristic charm offensive of Anthony Albanese during their third bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.
Xi Jinping is pushing Anthony Albanese to fight against protectionism in the wake of Donald Trump’s pledge to impose 60 per cent tariffs on Chinese imports, as the leaders declared China-Australia relations had returned to levels not observed since the 2014 free trade agreement.
Marking the 10th anniversary of his speech to federal parliament in Canberra, the Chinese President launched an uncharacteristic charm offensive during his third bilateral meeting with the Prime Minister on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro.
In a series of “speed dating” diplomatic meetings at the APEC and G20 summits in Peru and Brazil, Mr Xi assembled his highest-ranking economic and foreign officials to rally support for Beijing against a looming US-China trade war.
After telling Mr Albanese in Beijing a year ago that China and Australia were “embarking on the right path of improvement”, Mr Xi used the pre-G20 meeting at his hotel on Monday (AEDT) to declare China and Australia had “realised a turnaround”.
In a show of force, Mr Xi was flanked at the meeting by Foreign Minister Wang Yi, powerful Communist Party official Cai Qi, Finance Minister Lan Fo’an, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, People’s Bank of China governor Pan Gongsheng and National Development and Reform Commission chair Zheng Shanjie.
The accelerated softening in Beijing’s rhetoric towards Australia under the Albanese government contrasts with the Chinese government imposing $20.6bn in bans on Australian exports as retaliation against the Morrison government. With China removing bans valued at almost $20bn under Labor, Mr Xi urged Mr Albanese in a 30-minute meeting to join him in transforming the relationship and projecting “stability and certainty to the region and wider world”.
The G20 meeting in Brazil, dubbed the “Xi20 meeting” given the Chinese leader’s flurry of offsite meetings with leaders including British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, will conclude on Wednesday (AEDT) with no consensus decisions expected on Ukraine, the Middle East or climate change finance and targets.
Russia, China and Saudi Arabia are likely to team up to block motions put forward by Western nations. The snubbing of collective support on the conflicts and emissions reduction targets has provided an opening for Mr Xi to launch a diplomatic blitz and secure backing for Beijing ahead of Mr Trump returning to the White House in January.
Mr Xi, who with the cessation of bans on Australian lobsters over the Chinese lunar new year period will have removed almost all restrictions imposed during the Morrison government term, said “over the past decade, we have made some progress in China-Australia relations and also witnessed some twists and turns … that trajectory has many inspirations to offer”.
“Our relations have realised a turnaround and continue to grow, bringing tangible benefits to our two peoples. So, this is the result of our collective hard work in the same direction, and should be maintained with great care,” Mr Xi said.
“I wish to work with you, Mr Prime Minister, to make our comprehensive strategic partnership more mature, stable and fruitful, and (project) more stability and certainty to the region and the wider world.”
Mr Albanese, who is expected to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, told Mr Xi “there has been further encouraging progress in the stabilisation of our relationship”.
“We’ve resumed a range of dialogues. And the tempo of bilateral visits is increasing. Trade is flowing more freely, to the benefit of both countries and to people and businesses on both sides. Our whole region will benefit from the prosperity that can flow from peace, security and stability in our region. That is why our direct discussions to build deeper understanding on the issues that matter to us are so important.”
In contrast to generic opening remarks made by Mr Albanese before his meeting with Mr Xi, Sir Keir took the fight to Mr Xi in the first meeting between a British prime minister and the Chinese President in more than six years. British journalists were aggressively bundled out of Mr Xi’s hotel after Sir Keir raised human rights issues, including the treatment of Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and British national Jimmy Lai, Taiwan, Chinese sanctions on British parliamentarians and Ukraine.
Mr Albanese later sought to clarify points made by the China Daily about “decoupling”, and declared China’s historically poor trade behaviour must not breach Australia’s national interest.
“We support peace in the Taiwan Strait. Decoupling refers to the idea that you would decouple your economies,” said Mr Albanese, who at the G20 summit met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
On China’s prior breaking of trade rules, Mr Albanese said “we have different political systems”. He also confirmed that he discussed with Mr Xi the case of Dr Yang Hengjun, who is being held in custody on a suspended death sentence charge.
“I raised the issues of human rights. I raised Taiwan. I raised cyber. I raised the supply of assets to Russia. I raised the ICBM missile test that I previously raised as well with the Chinese Premier. So, we raised issues that matter to us, to Australia,” he said.
“China will speak on behalf of China. My job is to speak on behalf of Australia. And Australia has an interest in free and fair trade. We’re a trading nation and Australia believes that there should be international norms of trade, that we should abide by them.”
After attending the third and final session of the G20 summit focused on sustainable development and energy transition, Mr Albanese is expected to fly home to Australia on Wednesday (AEDT) and arrive back in time for this week’s final parliamentary sitting day on Thursday. Next week is the final scheduled sitting week before the Christmas break.
Shortly after the Xi-Albanese meeting, Beijing mouthpiece the China Daily published multiple positive pieces and revealed Mr Xi told the Prime Minister that China and Australia must “strengthen co-ordination and co-operation, and oppose protectionism”. According to the China Daily, Mr Xi invited Mr Albanese to visit his country next year and told the Labor leader: “There is no fundamental conflict of interests between China and Australia.”
“Noting that both China and Australia are supporters and defenders of economic globalisation and free trade, he urged the two sides to promote the sharing of opportunities and benefits among various countries via opening up, so as to realise common development,” the article said.
“Noting that the two sides should be firm in expanding the pattern of mutually beneficial and win-win co-operation, Xi said China is willing to import more quality Australian products, encourage Chinese companies to invest and do business in Australia, and hope that Australia will provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies.”
Mr Albanese and Sir Keir used their G20 bilateral meeting to discuss climate change, the most recent British budget, and the future of AUKUS and the Indo-Pacific region under a new Republican administration in the US. While Mr Albanese said he did not discuss Mr Trump with Mr Xi or the British PM, it is understood the post-election US aftermath was raised outside formal bilateral discussions.
“They discussed their ongoing commitment to climate collaboration and looked forward to the work of the Australia-UK Climate and Energy Partnership, launched last month at CHOGM,” a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
“At a challenging time for the world, both leaders reiterated their commitment to the AUKUS defence and security partnership, which will advance a free and open Indo-Pacific while maintaining peace and stability. The Prime Minister reiterated the need for G20 leaders to double down on support for Ukraine. Both agreed that they would do whatever it takes to ensure Putin does not win.”
Mr Albanese, who sat between Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the G20 summit, spoke with Joe Biden, Emmanuel Macron and Mr Modi shortly after arriving following the Xi meeting.
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