Key points
- Albanese is on his second visit to China
- Australia values its relationship with China: Albanese
- Xi has hailed the “benefits” of improved ties between China and Australia
ISLAMABAD: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Tuesday that “dialogue” must be at the heart of ties between Canberra and Beijing as he met with President Xi Jinping.
Meeting Xi in Beijing on Tuesday, Albanese said he welcomed “the opportunity to set out Australia’s views and interests”.
“Australia values our relationship with China and will continue to approach it in a calm and consistent manner, guided by our national interest,” AFP cited Albanese as saying.
“Direct discussions”
“It’s important we have these direct discussions on issues that matter to us and to the stability and prosperity of our region. As you and I have agreed previously, dialogue needs to be at the center of our relationship,” he said.
Xi, in turn, hailed the “benefits” of improved ties between China and Australia.
“No matter how the international landscape may evolve we should uphold this overall direction unswervingly,” he said.
CGTN reported that Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is on a visit to China, his second trip to the country since taking office in 2022 and his first since his re-election in May.
