PM trip demonstrates importance Australia places on China

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wraps up a weeklong official visit to China on Friday. This trip, his second visit to China as prime minister, includes stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu, where he engaged with representatives from the business, tourism and sports sectors.

China is a crucial trading partner for Australia, being its largest trading partner, export destination and source of imports for 16 consecutive years. Albanese's visit is taking place as the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership enters its second decade.

Chen Hong, director of the Australian Studies Centre at East China Normal University in Shanghai, highlighted the importance of the visit. "The fact that Albanese visited China immediately after his re-election shows the importance Australia places on China," Chen told Shanghai-based Xinmin Evening News.

"Australia recognizes the need for certainty amid the ever-changing international landscape, and thus, it has turned its focus toward China," Chen added.

Chen pointed out that the itinerary reflects different intentions: the stop in Beijing was aimed at high-level dialogues; Shanghai was for enhancing economic and trade exchanges; and Chengdu was included to signify Australia's view of China as a comprehensive strategic partner. The selection of Chengdu, known for its technological innovation capabilities, service industries and entertainment, signals deepening practical cooperation between the two nations.

One of the primary topics of discussion during Albanese's visit was deepening economic and trade cooperation.

"Australia's energy products, agricultural products, seafood, services and tourism are closely tied to China, while China's electric vehicles and home appliances have a significant market in Australia," Chen said. "The economic and trade relationship serves as a stabilizer and catalyst for China-Australia relations, with both aspects reinforcing each other."

Vaughn Barber, chair of the China-Australia Chamber of Commerce, echoed these sentiments in an interview with China Central Television. "The fact that the prime minister has visited twice over a relatively short period of time and each time business engagement is a key element of his visit underscores how important it is from Australia's perspective to have a strong economic, trade and investment relationship with China," Barber said.

Barber said multiple years of business sentiment surveys indicate that the health of the bilateral relationship is very important to business confidence to invest. He added that the improvement in the bilateral relationship following Albanese's election in 2022 was welcomed by the business community.

He emphasized the significance of interpersonal and corporate relationships that have been built over years of collaboration, noting that one of the biggest advantages in the business relationship between the two countries is the reservoir of goodwill and long-term collaboration.

"I think there is no substitute for coming here, visiting here and understanding the situation on the ground," he said. "It's that people-to-people relationships and the relationships between companies who have worked together for many years that provides that ballast to get through difficult times but also now to capitalize on the strengthening phase of the relationship."