Anthony Albanese arrives in Chengdu on last leg of China visit

Anthony Albanese has landed in Chengdu, the panda-breeding capital of the world, on the last leg of his six-day state visit to China.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and fiancee Jodie Haydon at an event unveiling an Australian Open Asia Pacific Wildcard Play-Off in Chengdu. Picture: NewsWire/ Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer

Anthony Albanese has landed in the world’s panda-breeding capital, kicking off a cruisy final leg of his state visit to China.

The Prime Minister’s arrival in Chengdu coincided with the launch of a 2026 Australian Open wildcard playoff in the city.

China has one of the largest number of tennis players in the world and boasts an enormous audience too.

After their meeting Mr Wang and Mr Albanese headed to the Sichuan International Tennis Centre to formally unveil the playoff.

In remarks at the event, Mr Albanese spruiked it as an example of how Australia and China were boosting their relationship through people-to-people links – a key theme of the visit.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Jodie Haydon and Sichuan CCP Secretary Wang Xiaohui at an event unveiling an Australian Open Asia Pacific wildcard playoff in Chengdu. Picture: NewsWire/ Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer

Mr Albanese formally unveiled the AO wildcard playoff in Chengdu. Picture: NewsWire/ Joseph Olbrycht-Palmer

Earlier, Mr Albanese received yet another red carpet welcome on the tarmac in Chengdu – the third of his six-day diplomatic and business blitz.

True to his other welcomes, he was quickly whisked away to a meeting with the Chinese Communist Party’s chief in Sichuan.

“I wanted to make sure on this trip that I came to western China,” Mr Albanese told Wang Xiaohui, saying he wanted to build relationships in the region.

The Australian Open is a big deal in China.

Millions of viewers tune-in from here, and it brings tourists to Australia to see the event in person.

Next year, Chengdu will once again be a pathway for players to compete down under.

I’ve just joined Tennis Australia to announce… pic.twitter.com/HaXKDH1tb5

— Anthony Albanese (@AlboMP) July 16, 2025

He noted Sichuan province “has a state-to-state relationship with the state of Victoria”.

He also pointed out that Sichuan and Australia had a trade relationship worth more than $5bn, which he said was “more than many countries Australia has trading relationships with”.

Originally published as Anthony Albanese arrives in Chengdu on last leg of China visit