China’s Premier Li Qiang to visit Australia this week

SYDNEY - Chinese Premier Li Qiang will arrive in Australia on June 15, the first visit by a Chinese premier since 2017, in a sign of improving ties, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said on June 11.

During the four-day visit, Mr Li will visit Adelaide city, the capital Canberra, and mining state Western Australia.

Both leaders will meet Australian and Chinese business leaders at a roundtable in Western Australia, Mr Albanese said at a media briefing in Canberra.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a regular briefing on June 11 that Mr Li’s trip to Australia would “enhance understanding and mutual trust, deepen pragmatic cooperation, and jointly build a more mature, stable and fruitful China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership”.  

China is Australia’s largest trading partner, with Australian resources and energy exports dominating trade flow.

Australia is the biggest supplier of iron ore to China, and China has been an investor in Australian mining projects, though some recent Chinese investments in critical minerals have been blocked by Australia on national interest grounds.

Mr Albanese said foreign investment has a role to play in Australia and is considered on a case by case basis. “Chinese engagement, including with the resources sector, has been important for growth,” he said.

China imposed trade restrictions on a raft of Australian agricultural and mineral products during a diplomatic dispute in 2020, but these have now been largely eased.

Mr Albanese said he would like to see the remaining Chinese trade impediments on lobsters and seafood removed.

In his meeting with Mr Li next week in Canberra, Mr Albanese will raise the case of

Australian writer Yang Hengjun,

who was given a suspended death sentence on espionage charges in February, as well as an incident in May where a Chinese military jet dropped flares near an Australian defence helicopter, which Mr Albanese said “was dangerous and should never have happened”.

“Welcoming the Chinese Premier to our shores is an opportunity for Australia to advance our interests by demonstrating our national values, our people’s qualities and our economy’s strengths,” Mr Albanese said.

“Australia continues to pursue a stable and direct relationship with China, with dialogue at its core.”

Mr Li is also scheduled to visit New Zealand some time this week before heading to Australia.

He will then fly to Malaysia, wrapping up a tour lasting from June 13 to 20, China’s Foreign Ministry said.

Mr Lin, the ministry’s spokesman, said Mr Li’s visit to New Zealand would see him “exchange in-depth views on China-New Zealand relations and international and regional issues of common concern”. REUTERS, AFP