Anthony Albanese has spoken after a historic meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit in Indonesia.
The prime minister described the conversation as a “very positive and constructive discussion”, marking the first meeting between an Australian leader and Xi since 2019.
The prime minister said it was another “important step towards stabilizing the Australia-China relationship”.
“So it’s an important relationship for Australia and Australia is looking for a stable relationship with China,” he told reporters after the meeting.
“We have big differences to manage, but we will always do better when we have dialogue.
“One of the things that surprised me was that we both talked about how we have very complementary economies. It’s clearly in Australia’s interest to export some of the foreign products we have, it’s in China’s interest to receive those foreign products.”
“I put forward Australia’s position on the blockages in our trade relationship, raised the differences we have on human rights issues, including Xinjiang.
“I specifically presented the cases of Cheng Lei and [Yang Hengjun].
“I also outlined our position on Ukraine and called for China to exert its influence on Russia specifically on Russia’s threats to use tactical nuclear weapons.”
Xi said he was “very happy” to meet the Australian prime minister for the first time.
“China-Australia relations have long been at the forefront of China’s relations with developed countries, and deserve to be cherished by us,” he said in a statement translated by the ABC.
“In recent years, China-Australia relations have encountered some difficulties, which we do not want to see because China and Australia are both important countries in the Asia-Pacific region, we should improve, maintain and develop the relationship between China and the Pacific two countries.
“It is in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and is also conducive to promoting the development of peace in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.
“Since the Prime Minister took office, you have made a series of comments on China-Australia relations on several occasions and have repeatedly said that you will handle China-Australia relations in a mature manner.”
Asked by reporters if Xi had signed a concession on the trade embargo, Albanese said that had not happened.
“It was not anticipated that a meeting like that you would have immediate statements that I think if people thought this was going to happen, it was unrealistic,” he said.
Albanese said Xi echoed his language about the “complementary economies” of Australia and China, but said the discussion did not include trade concessions.
Trade sanctions and military priorities have threatened the relationship between China and Australia in recent years, and many hope Tuesday night’s talk will be a sign that tensions are beginning to thaw.
Albanese downplayed the length of the 32-minute meeting. Xi spent three hours talking with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday.
“It happened over time (for) when it was scheduled, and it was very constructive,” he said.
The pair also discussed the climate crisis and Taiwan, according to Albanese.
“I referred to the floods that are happening in New South Wales, that climate change is a global problem and requires a global response,” he said.
“China has an important role to play in Taiwan. I certainly raised that issue. I put Australia’s position that it is support for the status quo, which I presented at the meeting, and that we did not want to see any change in this status.”
The last formal discussion between an Australian prime minister and a Chinese president was between Xi and Malcolm Turnbull in 2016.
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison held a brief informal discussion with Xi in 2019.
“We have had our differences and Australia will not stand back from our interests or our values, but our bilateral relationship is important,” Albanese told reporters before the meeting.
“Both sides have worked to stabilize the relationship, based on mutual respect and benefit.
“We will soon, of course, reach the milestone of 50 years of diplomatic relations, when a former Labor prime minister, Gough Whitlam, established diplomatic relations between Australia and the People’s Republic of China in 1972,” Mr Albanese said.
“We agreed on principles to guide the relationship, based on equality, respect and mutual benefit and a commitment to peaceful coexistence, and these principles remain important today.
“President Xi and I look forward to a constructive exchange and dialogue today, thank you.”
Treasurer Jim Chalmers said the meeting was in the interest of peace and prosperity, and stability and security in the region.
“I was with the Prime Minister yesterday in Indonesia; I know he is looking forward to engaging with President Xi,” Dr Chalmers told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
“We don’t pretend we don’t have big differences here… And we will speak up for our national interest when necessary.
“But we think engagement is important, but we give ourselves the best chance to solve some of these problems … today.”
Dr Chalmers said Australians should not expect all their differences with China to be resolved in one meeting.
“One meeting won’t solve them all in one fell swoop … It’s about participation,” he said.
“We give ourselves a much better chance (of solving big problems) when there is compromise and dialogue, and there will be that today.”
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