Nick Coyle says Anthony Albanese’s trip to China is the perfect time to release his wife Cheng Lei

A well-timed visit to China by Anthony Albanese is the perfect opportunity for Beijing to free detained Australian journalist Cheng Lei in a “gesture” of optimism about the two countries’ relations, her partner says.

China's President Xi Jinping’s second-in-charge is Premier Li Keqiang is meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture Noel Celis/AFP

A well-timed visit to China by Anthony Albanese is the perfect opportunity for Beijing to free detained Australian journalist Cheng Lei in a “gesture” of optimism about the two countries’ relations, her partner says.

Ms Cheng, 48, has spent more than three years behind bars and with the Prime Minister’s trip slated for some time after October this year, her supporters are hopeful she could be home by Christmas or the Chinese New Year.

Ms Cheng’s partner Nick Coyle told this masthead he welcomed the PM’s imminent trip as another step toward improved relations.

“Dialogue is inherently a positive development and there are good people from both Australia and China who wish to see the bilateral relationship firmly focused on the positive aspects of such engagement,” he said.

“Resolving Cheng Lei’s case swiftly and compassionately, seeing her reunited with her children would unambiguously be a highly positive development.”

Nick Coyle and his partner, Australian journalist Cheng Lei, who was detained in China in August 2020. Picture: Supplied

Anthony Albanese will visit President Xi Jinping in China this year to make a personal appeal for the release of Australians detained in Beijing and the removal of remaining trade blocks.

The Prime Minister has confirmed he will take up Mr Xi’s invite, becoming the first Australian leader to travel to China in seven years.

While diplomatic relations with Beijing have improved, Australia is also finalising plans to join the Philippines on patrols of the contested South China Sea in a show of solidarity with allies seeking to enforce freedom of navigation rights in the region.

Mr Albanese met with China’s Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Jakarta where he lobbied for the release of Ms Cheng and writer Dr Yang Hengjun, as well as for three Australians currently on death row in China to have their sentences downgraded.

“I raised Cheng Lei and her case and put forward my view, which is the view I think Australians have … they want to see Cheng Lei reunited with her children,” he said.

Cheng Lei has been detained in China for more than three years.

Regarding the three Australians facing the death penalty in China for drug related charges, Mr Albanese said he reiterated “Australia does not support capital punishment”.

Mr Coyle said such a gesture would “not only reassure the Australian public”, but “bring a renewed sense of optimism for what can be possible going forward”.

In July a verdict in the television anchor’s case was pushed back to October, and while senior government officials have privately cautioned against expectations of a release specifically linked to Mr Albanese’s visit, it is hoped the timing will result in some positive movement.

Ms Cheng was detained by the Chinese Ministry of State Security in August 2020 on murky spying changes that have not been publicly substantiated.

Mr Coyle said Mr Albanese in China was the perfect time for his wife to be released.

In a notable shift of language, in August the media section of the Chinese Embassy provided a statement that said “based on humanitarian considerations” Beijing was “ready to listen to Australia’s demands and provide assistance within the scope of legal provisions”.

“China’s judicial authorities have handled the case in accordance with the law,” the statement said.

Ms Cheng has two children, aged 11 and 14, who live in Melbourne.

Last month she issued a rare public statement in which she expressed her wish to be reunited with her children and described the harsh conditions of her detention.

In an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the ASEAN summit in Jakarta last week Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Mr Yang and Ms Cheng’s cases had “touched the heart” of many Australians and it was important for the federal government to “keep advocating for them to be reunited with their families”.

PUSH TO LIFT TRADE BARRIERS

Mr Albanese also pushed China to lift remaining trade barriers blocking $2.5 billion worth of wine, meat and other exports, noting there would be economic benefits for both countries.

“The discussion …. was respectful, it was constructive and it was positive,” he said following the meeting.

A year ago Beijing was preventing about $20.6bn in Australian exports from entering their markets through both formal tariffs and unofficial barriers, but over the past year coal, barley and timber were able to return to Chinese markets.

Mr Albanese also raise`d human rights concerns in Hong Kong, the Xinjiang province and Taiwan, as well as China’s expansion in the South China Sea.

Mr Li raised Beijing’s concerns about Australia’s ongoing ban on telecommunications company Huawei and sought greater investment opportunities.

Australian Dr Yang Hengjun is also currently in detention in China.

Speaking at the start of the meeting, Mr Li said the China Australia relationship had continued to show a “positive movement”.

“(This) is welcomed by all sectors of both countries and the international community,” he said.

Mr Albanese said the Chinese leader raised a number of well known concerns, including investment opportunities in Australia

Mr Albanese travelled to Manila on Thursday afternoon ahead of talks with Philippines about economic and defence co-operation – the first bilateral visit by an Australian prime minister in 20 years.

“For Australia we have strong economic relations with the Philippines, we also have strong co-operation when it comes to defence arrangements,” Mr Albanese said.

Australia is in the final stages of talks to join the Philippines on patrols of the contested South China Sea area.

Last month Australian Defence Force personnel conducted a major military exercise with the Philippines, which included simulating taking an island through an amphibious landing.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon are welcomed to President Joko Widodo and Indonesia’s First Lady Iriana Widodo for the gala dinner of the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta. Picture: Mast Irham/AFP

Despite this progress, China’s rapid military expansion and attempts to compete for global power with the US has continued to destabilise the region.

Mr Albanese said the meeting with Mr Li was an opportunity to discuss a range of issues with “the view to advance stability and managing competition peacefully”.

“Our views will not always align, we remain committed to our values and interests, but we understand that dialogue is absolutely critical,” he said.

Mr Albanese is in Jakarta for two days of meetings as part of the ASEAN summit before he travels to Manila for high level talks with the Philippines and then the G20 leaders summit in New Delhi, India.

Mr Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon attended the ASEAN gala hosted by Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Wednesday night.

The PM launched the federal government’s new Southeast Asia economic strategy during the trip, saying he was confident Australian businesses would see the benefit of “diversifying” trade after an over reliance on China.

“We have enormous opportunities because of where we’re positioned, because of where we are geographically, as well as our resources, both those in the ground but more importantly, those above the ground in the form of our human capital, to take enormous advantage of the growth that is occurring in this region,” he said.

“I’m confident that businesses get that that is in our interests.”

Foreign Minister Penny Wong said it was crucial governments ensured Australia was in a “better place than we are now” to take advantage of the economic opportunities in Southeast Asia for future generations.

“If not, we know that Australia there are risks for Australia’s prosperity and security in the years ahead. So this means more opportunities for Australian businesses, more Australian jobs and boosting economic prosperity,” she said.

“It’s also about resilience.

“The smart businesses know that reducing reliance on a single market, a single trading partner, is part of doing business in this time and beyond.”

Ms Wong said it would not be easy to get a foothold into the new markets but it was the “smart thing” for Australia to try to do.

Originally published as Nick Coyle says Anthony Albanese’s trip to China is the perfect time to release his wife Cheng Lei