Anthony Albanese, the prime minister of Australia, will travel to China on Saturday( Nov. 4 ) for a historic visit, signaling that ties with the trading tycoon and strategic rival have softened.
His four-day journey to Beijing and Shanghai, which was the first for an Australian leader in seven years, is commonly regarded as a sign that ties are better now that the political crisis that cost billions of dollars in trade has passed.
The Albanese state has pursued a twin-track China strategy since its poll in May of last year in an effort to forge closer relations with his nation’s largest trading partner while battling Beijing for more influence in the Pacific.
China and Australia were at odds three years ago.
In 2020, China imposed punitive tariffs on a variety of American commodities in retaliation for the past conservative government’s refusal to allow tech giant Huawei to enter into 5G contracts and demand that COVID-19 be looked into.
However, with a shift in tone under Australia’s fresh administration, the majority of those restrictions have since been removed.
Before the four-day vacation, China’s ambassador to Australia, Xiao Qian, wrote in an opinion part that” China-Australia relationships are now at a crucial moment of setting off and sailing off again.”
Through” the relentless work of both sides ,” the ambassador praised the return of American exports of coal, timber, and barley to China.
After a five-month review, China has indicated that it will also reduce the price wall it imposed on wines, one of the few products also blocked.
Albanese has made it clear that the nations are not carefully aligned despite the simpler diplomatic and trade relationships.
” We have a clear head about this. He stated during a trip to Washington last month that” we are two countries with very different narratives, values, and political techniques.”
China does not view itself as a power that supports the” status quo ,” the prime minister cautioned.
He stated,” It seeks a place that is much more accommodating of its principles of passions.”