China and Australia’s differences should not define a vital diplomatic relationship, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said as he closed out his historic trip.
On the final day of his three-day trip, Mr Albanese visited China’s seat of power to a military guard of honour.
He was greeted by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and the pair shook hands in front of a row of the two nation’s flags at Beijing’s Great Hall of the People.
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Reflecting on the occasion as the first Australian prime minister to visit China since 2016, Mr Albanese said there was no doubt the trip had helped stabilise the relationship between Beijing and Canberra.
“While there are differences between Australia and China, we agreed that our differences should not define us,” he told reporters on Tuesday.
“This is one of Australia’s most important relationships.
“The truth is, the world is facing serious challenges and economic headwinds and that’s why a region that is peaceful, stable and prosperous matters at home.”
Though he had been warned by US President Joe Biden to be cautious when interacting with China, Mr Albanese said the government’s approach had been “patient, deliberate, calibrated and moved the relationship forward”.
Mr Albanese earlier described his high-level talks with Xi Jinping as “very successful” after meeting with the Chinese president at the Great Hall on Monday evening for more than an hour.
Mr Xi cracked a rare smile and gave a warm handshake upon greeting Mr Albanese.
The Chinese leader said Beijing and Canberra had “worked out some problems,” referencing points of contention including human rights, escalation of threats against Taiwan and trade bans on Australian exports worth $20 billion at their height.
In his opening remarks, Mr Xi praised the prime minister for working to stabilise and improve relations with China.
“Now the China-Australia relationship has embarked on the right path of improvement and development,” the Chinese leader told the Australian delegation.
“I’m heartened to see that.
“A healthy and stable China relationship serves the common interests of our two countries and two peoples.”
Former prime minister Malcolm Turnbull said while the federal government had made steps forward, China had been looking for inroads to reset the relationship.
“(China) exercising coercive control failed … it didn’t result in any change in Australian policy, and in fact, arguably, resulted in us moving closer to our ally the United States,” Mr Turnbull told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
“China then needed an exit ramp and the obvious exit ramp was a change in government.”
Mr Turnbull said the relationship between the two countries wasd on more stable ground.
“Australia has stood up to that (economic) pressure. China has recognised that doesn’t, hasn’t worked and we’ve moved on to a more stable, normal, conventional relationship, and that’s good,” he said.
Mr Albanese will next head to the Pacific Islands Forum in the Cook Islands to discuss national interests in the region with other world leaders.
