What I’m going to say to Xi Jinping: Anthony Albanese says he’s going to be ‘direct’ when he meets with Chinese leader – in first official visit to China for an Australian PM in seven years
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will ‘ask tough questions’ to the Chinese president during his upcoming visit to the country.
Albanese will depart for China on Saturday as part of the first visit by an Australian prime minister since 2016.
The trip coincides with an easing of tensions between the two countries, with China rolling back tariffs on several Australian products.
Mr Albanese said that although diplomatic relations had already thawed, he would be direct during his meeting with President Xi Jinping.
“Australians are quite direct, and the Australian people want me to be direct about our interests,” he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
Albanese will depart for China on Saturday as part of the first visit by an Australian prime minister since 2016
‘Putting things into words in a respectful and direct way is the way to achieve results, breakthroughs and progress in the relationship.
“China will also have differences with us, and I expect they will bring them directly to me when I get there.”
The prime minister will visit a trade fair in Shanghai and meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang before holding talks with President Xi in Beijing on Monday.
It’s part of a whirlwind period that saw the Prime Minister visit the United States, followed by China and ending next week in the Cook Islands.
China recently agreed to a review of tariffs on Australian wine, after almost three years of embargoes.
The revision raised hopes that China could revise similar tariffs on the remaining products affected by the economic curbs.
Tariffs on barley were also recently resolved, but the Prime Minister said he is “always putting barriers to Australian trade” because it is in the country’s interests.
Positive signs also emerged in the relationship after China agreed to release jailed Australian journalist Cheng Lei.
The prime minister will visit a trade fair in Shanghai and meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang before holding talks with President Xi in Beijing on Monday.
Mr Albanese said he planned to raise issues related to the South China Sea.
“It is an important corridor for Australian trade to Japan and Korea, and it is important that international laws are respected,” he said.
He denied that a recent visit to the United States would impact bilateral talks in China.
“China knows we have an alliance with the United States. “They know we are a nation that stands up for human rights and the rule of law and they expect us to do that,” he said.
“I’ve been direct about that and I think you’ve seen the improvement in the relationship partly because of the way we’ve executed it.
“We have differences of opinion and we are open and honest about them and can discuss those issues. Of course we have different political systems and different values.’