Australia, China Leaders Meet to Stabilize Relations Amid Economic Ties and Security Concerns
KUALA LUMPUR – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit on Monday, in the seventh high-level encounter between the two nations since Albanese’s election, as both sides work to solidify a mature and stable bilateral relationship.
The leaders affirmed the importance of the Australia-China relationship, with Albanese later stating on social media that it matters “for our economy, our security and the stability of our region.”
Highlighting the deep economic interdependence, the discussions noted that China accounts for 26 percent of Australia’s trade, particularly in key exports like iron ore and coal. Albanese emphasized that efforts to restore trade have “already made a huge difference for Australian workers and businesses,” and described China as Australia’s largest trading partner, a position he stated “won’t change.”
However, the Australian leader also raised concerns over a recent unsafe aerial incident in the South China Sea involving Chinese and Australian military forces, underscoring the ongoing tensions in the strategic waterway.
The talks were described as an opportunity to continue stabilizing the relationship through direct discussion and regular dialogue. “By having direct discussions and regular dialogue, we can navigate our differences and advocate for Australia’s interests,” Albanese said.
Notably, the conversation avoided delving into more deeply contentious issues such as human rights, reflecting Australia’s current strategy of balancing the restoration of lucrative trade ties with the protection of its security interests, a delicate act after years of strained relations under the previous government.
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