Chinese premier Li Qiang and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met in Beijing for the 10th Annual Leaders' Meeting, reaffirming their commitment to deepen ties between the two major economic partners.
Li highlighted that rising global instability makes Sino-Australian cooperation more important than ever. He noted that the Chinese and Australian economies are highly complementary, pointing to opportunities in:
- Energy resources: tapping into Australia's reserves and the Chinese mainland's demand
- Agricultural trade: boosting exports of food and beverages
- Green development: scaling renewable solutions and emissions-cutting tech
- Technological innovation: partnering on research and digital infrastructure
"We want to use all our dialogue mechanisms to design ambitious projects and uncover new drivers of economic growth," Li said. He also called on Australia to maintain a fair, open and non-discriminatory environment for enterprises and to enhance exchanges in culture, education, tourism and regional collaboration.
Albanese reciprocated, stressing Australia's adherence to the one-China policy and its opposition to "Taiwan independence." He emphasized: "Differences won't define our relationship." Australia is keen to:
- Expand trade and agriculture partnerships
- Welcome more Chinese students and tourists
- Collaborate on climate action and multilateral trade rules
Both leaders underlined their shared role as advocates for multilateralism and free trade in the Asia-Pacific. They pledged to work together within international frameworks, including the World Trade Organization, to tackle global challenges and build a more stable economic future.
Reference(s):
Premier Li: China ready to deepen bilateral cooperation with Australia
cgtn.com
