China’s second-most powerful man, Premier Li Qiang, on Saturday called for the country to “set aside differences” with Australia after years of tensions over a number of issues.
Li arrived in the southern city of Adelaide at the start of a four-day visit expected to focus on strengthening economic cooperation as China lifts punitive trade sanctions on key Australian exports and ties between Beijing and Canberra are being reset.
The visit is the first by a Chinese premier in seven years and is expected to mark President Xi Jinping’s first visit to Australia in about 10 years.
What did Lee say?
“History has proven that mutual respect, setting aside differences to seek common ground and mutually beneficial cooperation are valuable experiences in developing China-Australia relations and must be carried forward,” he said in a statement.
“A more mature, stable and fruitful comprehensive strategic partnership will be a shared treasure of the two peoples,” the statement added.
Li’s visit, which will also include a stop to check on the two China-born giant pandas that have lived at the zoo since 2009, comes as China is gradually lifting trade sanctions on Australian wine, timber, barley and beef exports.
Live lobsters are the last item on the sanctions list due to be removed soon.
The sanctions, imposed in 2020 amid bilateral diplomatic tensions with the previous conservative government, cost Australian exporters an estimated A$20 billion (€12.13 billion, $13 billion) per year.
PM Li is also due to visit the China-controlled Tianqi Lithium Energy Australia processing plant in Western Australia, which produces lithium hydroxide used in electric vehicle batteries.
Like Washington, the Australian government has expressed concern about China’s dominance in critical minerals such as lithium, which are seen as vital to the global transition to renewable energy.
Why has Australia been at odds with China before?
Australia’s previous Liberal government angered Beijing with a number of actions.
Among other things, the bill introduced legislation banning covert foreign interference in Australian politics, primarily targeting China.
It also excluded Chinese telecommunications equipment giant Huawei from the rollout of the country’s 5G network due to security concerns.
Canberra also called for an independent investigation into the origins and response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which originated in China.
Relations between the two countries have improved since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government took office in 2022.
But 53% of Australians still see China as a security threat rather than an economic partner, according to an annual poll released in June by the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based foreign policy think tank.
Reflecting these security tensions, Albanese said he would discuss recent clashes between the two countries’ militaries in the South China Sea and Yellow Sea with his counterpart Li.
Australia claims the incident, in which Chinese fighter jets allegedly fired flares into the flight path of an Australian naval helicopter, put Australian personnel at risk.
tj/ab (Reuters, Associated Press)
