Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visiting the panda centre in Chengdu to see Fu Ni, who spent a decade at the Adelaide Zoo. Photo: PM’s Facebook.
Anthony Albanese has concluded a successful visit to China, but his drop-ins and photo opportunities at famous tourist destinations have prompted the Opposition to describe the trip as somewhat indulgent.
The six-day tour was the Prime Minister’s second official visit to China and it has helped place the relationship between Beijing and Canberra at its friendliest in some years.
Mr Albanese met China’s most senior leaders in Beijing, including his fourth meeting with President Xi Jinping.
He also met with Premier Li Qiang for their third Annual Leaders’ Meeting, and had his second meeting with Chairman Zhao Leji of the National People’s Congress.
The PM said the visit was an opportunity to continue advancing Australia’s security and economic interests.
“Wise management of this relationship is crucial for Australia’s future prosperity and for the security of our nation and the stability of our region,” he said.
Mr Albanese and Mr Li announced a review of the 10-year-old China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, to allow industry and the community to share views on how to improve the agreement.
In Shanghai, the pair participated in the 8th Australia-China CEO Roundtable and witnessed the signing of bilateral arrangements to progress cooperation in trade, agriculture and tourism.
The PM convened a steel decarbonisation roundtable, oversaw the signing of agreements to boost tourism links, and in Chengdu met Australian businesses and scientists in the health and medical technologies sector.
But with Chengdu known as China’s (and the world’s) panda capital, Mr Albanese also paid a visit to its giant panda-breeding and research centre.
There he caught up with Fu Ni, one of the first pandas to have spent a decade at the Adelaide Zoo on loan from China.
It was that visit, as well as his drop-in at the Great Wall of China the day before to honour former Labor prime minister Gough Whitlam’s groundbreaking time there in the 1970s, that led to criticism from the Coalition.
Shadow finance minister James Paterson described the tour as indulgent of taxpayers’ money.
“I do wonder whether a Gough Whitlam history tour on the Great Wall of China, whether a visit to Chengdu to pose with some pandas, and whether a hit of tennis is strictly necessary as part of a six-day visit to China when there is so much else at stake in our other international relationships around the world,” he said.
“Frankly, I have to say that some of this is starting to look a little bit indulgent …
“The appropriate time to do a nostalgic history tour of Labor Party mythology is after you retire, in your own time, at your own expense, not on the taxpayer dime.”
Shadow foreign minister Michaelia Cash said the PM needed to put more energy into securing a meeting with US President Donald Trump.
“Mr Albanese, you’ve had your six-day extended visit with our greatest trading partner,” she said.
“You now need to prioritise the relationship, the bedrock of our security, with the leader of the free world, the United States of America.
“Long live the Australia-United States alliance. That is what provides us with our security.”
The Prime Minister has hit back at the criticism, saying the bilateral relationship between Australia and China had been progressed by his official visit.
“If you compare the difference of this visit with the failure of the Coalition during the last term, during the term in which I was Opposition Leader, they didn’t have a phone conversation between a single minister in Australia and our major trading partner,” Mr Albanese said.
“So, we look at these things in perspective. What we’ve had is constructive engagement. We have continued to be able to put forward Australia’s position …
“The Great Wall of China symbolises the extraordinary history and culture here in China, and showing a bit of respect to people never cost anything.
“But you know what it does? It gives you a reward.”
As the visit came to an end, Mr Albanese issued a statement to say Australia’s approach to the relationship with China remained “patient, calibrated and deliberate” and that dialogue was central to the stability of it.
“This visit marks another important step in the Australia-China relationship,” he said.
“A stable and constructive relationship with China is in Australia’s national interest.
“We will cooperate where we can, disagree where we must and engage in our national interest.
“Strengthening our security and economic interests with our largest trading partner will boost Australian jobs and support Australian businesses.
“I used my engagements in China to advocate for Australia’s interests, including on trade, consular, human rights and regional and global issues.
“I thank President Xi and Premier Li for their hospitality on my second official visit to China.”
