Albanese hasn’t received ‘in principle’ invitation from China, but open to going

After widespread reports Anthony Albanese had been invited “in principle” to Beijing, the Prime Minister has finally weighed in.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has denied reports he has been officially invited to China.

Earlier this week, The South China Morning Post cited both Chinese and Australian government sources in reporting President Xi Jinping’s government had extended an “in principle” invitation to visit Beijing.

The article, published online on Tuesday, said Mr Albanese’s trip would take place around September or October.

Asked to confirm the reports at a press conference on Wednesday, Mr Albanese said “no”, he had not yet been invited.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Chinese President Xi Jinping during the 2022 G20 summit. Picture: AAP / Mick Tsikas

“I read this, and I did check with my office,” he told reporters.

“I have said very clearly that dialogue is important. We are hoping that the Trade Minister (Don Farrell) will meet with his counterpart soon.

“The Assistant Trade Minister (Tim Ayres) met with his counterpart just last week.

“I’ve met with President Xi and I think dialogue is a good thing.

“I have said that if an invitation were to be received, then I would accept it and we would work out a timetable for it. There has not been a timetable (yet) worked out for it.”

He was asked by the same reporter if, when he did travel to China, he would take a leaf out of Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews’ book and not take journalists with him.

Mr Albanese did not answer the question.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he would take up any invitation from China when it arose. Picture: NewsWire / David Mariuz

Mr Albanese met with President Xi on the sidelines of the G20 last year.

Any visit from Mr Albanese would make him the first prime minister since Malcolm Turnbull in 2016 to travel to Beijing.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Assistant Trade Minister Tim Ayres have met with leaders in China over the past months.

The reports about the invitation to Mr Albanese comes as a Chinese government spokesperson urged the Australian government to reconsider its restrictions on the app TikTok.

Beijing made “stern representations” after Mr Albanese ticked off on a government-wide ban over espionage concerns.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Nin urged the “Australian side to earnestly abide by the rules of the market economy and the principles of fair competition”, and that Beijing had relayed concerns to Canberra.

Ms Mao said Australia needed to provide “Chinese companies with a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment”.

Originally published as Albanese hasn’t received ‘in principle’ invitation from China, but open to going