'Deep bonds': Australia, China talk up renewed rapport
Australia's frosty relationship with China continues to thaw as high-level talks between top politicians helps "renew and revitalise" engagement, the prime minister says.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang arrived at Parliament House on Monday for an annual leaders' meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and cabinet members including Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, Trade Minister Don Farrell and Resources Minister Madeleine King.
Mr Albanese said such high-level talks were crucial for the bilateral relationship.
"My government has put dialogue at the centre of Australia's relationship with China, because they're always most effective when we deal directly with each other," he told reporters in Canberra.
"It is crucial for us to engage with each other, given how close we are geographically, how interconnected we are economically and the deep and enduring bonds between our people.
"Australia and China have renewed and revitalised our engagement."
The leaders discussed foreign interference, issues in the Pacific, the continued imprisonment of Australian writer Yang Hengjun and improving military-to-military communication.
The politicians signed four memoranda of understanding on the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, climate change, education and research, strategic economic dialogue and cultural co-operation.
Mr Albanese's trip to China in November, followed by the visit to Australia showed both countries attached "great importance" to their relationship, the premier said.
"This relationship is on the right track of steady improvement," he said.
"We also had a candid exchange of views of some differences and disagreements and agreed to properly manage them in a manner befitting our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership."
The agreements would expand co-operation in border enforcement, climate change strategies, traveller numbers and other people-to-people links and political dialogues.
The Chinese representatives invited their Australian counterparts to China for the next annual leaders' meeting in 2025.
Representatives of both nations attended a state lunch where they were served wine, wagyu beef and, most notably, Australian rock lobster - which remains subject to trade restrictions.
Agriculture Minister Murray Watt noted there had been "enormous progress" restoring trade with China in the past few years after sanctions on coal, wine and barley were lifted.
The opposition, including Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce, has urged the government to stand up for itself when addressing thornier issues such as foreign interference and broader geopolitical issues.
"Because otherwise, people say you're weak and if you're weak, you get walked over," he told Seven's Sunrise.
Opposition foreign affairs spokesman Simon Birmingham noted China's geopolitical strategy appeared to have changed.
"Overall we're seeing a change in Beijing's approach around the world, not so much of the aggressive wolf-warrior diplomacy as there was a number of years ago," he said.
Mr Li's visit is the first by a Chinese premier to Australia in seven years and comes after a period of turbulence for the country's biggest trading partner, while recent military incidents in international waters have threatened to reignite tensions.
Pro and anti-China protesters congregated throughout Canberra with flags and bunting on street corners near parliament.
Red and yellow flags were emblazoned across parliament's lawns in a sign of nationalist pride while banners accusing the Chinese government of committing genocide flanked the city's main roads.
Mr Li arrived in South Australia on Saturday before visiting China's pandas at Adelaide Zoo and strolling through a local winery on Sunday.
On Monday, he also held a meeting with Governor-General David Hurley and another with Opposition Leader Peter Dutton.
He will round out his Australian tour with a trip to West Australia with Mr Albanese on Tuesday.
