Australian PM Visits China to Bolster Trade Ties Amid Global Tensions

Beijing, 12 July 2025 – Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has arrived in China for a six-day visit to strengthen economic ties with Australia’s largest trading partner, as global trade dynamics shift under US President Donald Trump’s "America First" policies.

Albanese, who landed in Beijing on Saturday for his second official visit since 2023, will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People’s Congress Standing Committee. The trip, spanning Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu, will focus on trade and regional security, with green energy highlighted as a key area for collaboration. “China accounts for nearly a third of Australia’s trade and will remain so for the foreseeable future,” Albanese said, emphasizing that the relationship “means jobs in Australia.” His delegation includes top executives from Macquarie Bank, HSBC’s Australian arm, and mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP, and Fortescue. The visit signals a stabilization of Australia-China relations, which had been strained by disputes over Chinese sanctions on Australian goods and mutual accusations of foreign interference. Since Albanese’s first visit in November 2023—the first by an Australian leader in seven years—his government has negotiated the removal of several Chinese tariffs. Analysts note that while geopolitical differences persist, particularly over China’s military activities in the Pacific and Australia’s AUKUS submarine deal with the US and UK, both nations are prioritizing economic cooperation. “They recognize their differences but agree those should not define the relationship,” said James Laurenceson, director of the Australia-China Relations Institute. Albanese is also expected to raise sensitive issues, including China’s actions in the South China Sea and the case of Australian novelist Yang Hengjun, who faces a suspended death sentence in China on espionage charges he denies. However, observers believe these issues will not significantly derail bilateral ties. China’s state-run Global Times described the visit as showing Australia’s desire to seek reliable partners in an uncertain global order, with China as “the obvious choice.” Meanwhile, the visit may draw scrutiny from Washington, which is reviewing the AUKUS pact and pursuing protectionist trade policies. The trip underscores Albanese’s focus on job creation and manufacturing, key promises of his re-elected Labor government. Despite tensions with the US, domestic support for engaging China remains strong, as Australia navigates a complex global landscape.