Australia’s Prime Minister announced on Thursday that he will travel to China later this year following discussions with China’s leader, who stated that Beijing was prepared to resume bilateral relations after years of tension.
Following a long rift over political and economic concerns, including Chinese penalties on Australian imports, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese made the news on the margins of a Southeast Asia summit in Indonesia.
After speaking with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Albanese informed reporters, “I… confirmed the invitation from President Xi,” adding, “I will visit China later this year at a mutually agreeable time.”
Since 2016, an Australian prime minister has not traveled to China.
Li informed Albanese that China was prepared to collaborate with Australia to resume exchanges in a variety of fields, according to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, without identifying any particular fields.
According to Xinhua, he declared that Beijing would cooperate with Australia to maintain peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, which was both countries’ shared home.
A robust and stable relationship between China and Australia serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples, according to China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning, who also expressed Beijing’s approval of the planned visit.
Albanese praised President Xi Jinping for the invitation and described his discussions with Li as “constructive” and “positive,” noting that for the two nations’ relations to grow there needs to be greater communication.
