Anthony Albanese touches down in China ahead of talks with President Xi Jinping in Beijing

Anthony Albanese has landed in China, becoming the first Australian prime minister to set foot in the country in seven years.

The prime minister arrived at Shanghai’s Hongqiao Airport on Saturday evening in an effort to stabilize relations with Beijing.

He stepped off his RAAF plane to a red carpet welcome and was greeted by China’s top diplomat in Australia Xiao Qian, Australian Ambassador to China Graham Fletcher, and Shanghai’s Vice Mayor Xie Dong.

From the tarmac, Mr Albanese said: “It’s very good to be here, I’m looking forward to the visit.”

He also received a bouquet of flowers from a young girl before leaving in a motorcade.

The three-day visit for high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang comes after the culmination of a diplomatic row in 2020 that led to Beijing imposing $20 billion in trade bans on Australian exports.

Ahead of his departure from Darwin on Saturday, the Prime Minister said the visit was down to the “patient, calibrated and measured approach” his government had taken.

“The fact that this is the first visit in seven years to our most important trading partner is a very positive step and I look forward to constructive discussions and dialogue with President Xi and Premier Li during my visit to Shanghai and Beijing,” he said.

Albanese reaffirmed his pledge to increase the detention of Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who has spent more than four years behind bars on espionage charges.

The Prime Minister was invited to attend the opening banquet of the China International Import Expo, which was to be hosted by Premier Li, on Saturday evening.

Mr Albanese will attend the trade show on Sunday morning, where around 200 Australian companies will be represented.

The Prime Minister was greeted on the tarmac by a young girl who presented him with a bouquet of flowers

He will fly to Beijing that evening, ahead of a meeting with President Xi on Monday evening AEDT, at the Great Hall of the People.

The next day he returns to the Chinese seat of power for an official welcome led by Prime Minister Li, followed by a working lunch.

The trip takes place on the 50th anniversary of Gough Whitlam’s historic visit in 1973 – the first visit by an Australian Prime Minister to China.

Beijing has lifted most of its punitive tariffs on Australian products, with only $2 billion remaining.

China is reviewing its $1.2 billion ban on Australian wine and is expected to lift sanctions after a five-month process.

The remaining sanctions apply to rock lobsters and some slaughterhouses.

Chinese state media hailed the prime minister’s visit as a harbinger of a new starting point for bilateral ties between the two nations.

Australian Ambassador to China Graham Fletcher greets Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (R) after arriving at Hongqiao Airport in Shanghai,

But the government is under no illusions that the relationship will return to what it was before the tensions arose.

The family of Dr. Yang implored Mr Albanese in the days leading up to his visit to make it clear to Beijing that relations with Canberra could not be stabilized until the Australian was released from prison.

The Prime Minister promised to address difficult issues including consular affairs, trade and the South China Sea during his visit.

China has released Australian journalist Cheng Lei after she spent more than three years behind bars prior to Albanese’s visit.

The Prime Minister was expected to attend the opening banquet of the China International Import Expo after arriving in Shanghai on Saturday evening