SYDNEY: As he started a four-day trip that promised expanded trade despite their geopolitical rivalry, Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday called for “shelving differences” with Australia.
Li – second in command only to President Xi Jinping in China – arrived at Adelaide during the start of his diplomatic mission across the resource-rich continent.
China has slowly lifted its ban on Australian wine, timber, barley and beef exports which were imposed in 2020 when there was a diplomatic standoff with the previous conservative government. Rock lobsters still attract tariffs from China.
The measures have cost Australian exporters about $20bn per annum.
Economic links between the two nations have improved since Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government came into power in 2022 and adopted a more conciliatory approach towards Beijing.
In an arrival statement available in writing, Li said: “Mutual respect, seeking common ground while putting differences aside and mutually beneficial cooperation” are key to growth of China-Australia relations.”
“A more grown-up, steady along with productive comprehensive strategic partnership is going to be a prize cherished by each country’s people.”
At Adelaide airport tarmac, Chinese Foreign Minister Penny Wong led tributes to the premier as he disembarked from his plane. Others included officials from other governments like photographers and television journalists.
It is his first visit since 2017 – making him the most senior Chinese leader ever to come here – after having travelled on similar trade-related business through New Zealand.
Panda patrol
He will tour a South Australian winemaker before visiting Adelaide Zoo where two Chinese loaned giant pandas are staying, hold talks with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese before having lunch with him later in Canberra and then go over to Western Australia for a lithium mine visit.
“The visit by Chinese premier “reflects improving tones,” Lowy Institute foreign policy program director Ryan Neelam explained.
“It is now more focused on economic opportunities between them than it was in the past, where political and security differences had overshadowed it,” he said.
“But at the same time those differences haven’t gone away.”
Wine and pandas –
Australia has stepped up its defence alliance with US to counter Beijing’s growing diplomatic and military reach across the Pacific’s islands.
China has called the AUKUS security pact between Washington, London and Canberra which would arm Australia with nuclear-powered but conventionally armed submarines a divisive act that raises proliferation risks related to nuclear weapons.
The latest sign of military tensions came after Australia accused China of “unsafe and unprofessional” behaviour last month when one of its fighter jets allegedly fired flares towards a naval helicopter over Yellow Sea.
Albanese is vowing to tell Li that this conduct was “inappropriate”.
When earlier this year Beijing sentenced Chinese-Australian dissident writer Yang Jun to death with reprieve, Canberra also reacted with “outrage”.
However, such disagreements are likely to be aired behind closed doors, according to Neelam.
Instead Li begins his trip on Sunday by visiting Adelaide’s famous Barossa winemaking region – the birthplace of the country’s foreign minister who helped improve relations with Beijing – setting a friendlier tone for his visit.
Just three months ago, China lifted tariffs that had effectively blocked premium Australian wine exports worth about $1bn per annum.]
However, before that, Li will go to Adelaide Zoo where giant pandas Wang Wang and Fu Ni have been on loan from China since 2009.
It is expected that even as the two have not borne any offspring during their time together, they will still be allowed by Australia to remain.
