Prime Minister of Australia, Anthony Albanese, extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to visit Canberra following a successful summit in Beijing.

Albanese is the first Australian prime minister to visit mainland China since 2016, following years of friction. The Canberra government says his trip to China is an important step in the stabilization of diplomatic relations after various political and trade disputes.

Amid conflicting views on several global matters, such as human rights and the source of COVID-19, Beijing implemented restrictions and taxes on a variety of goods imported from Australia.

After winning the May 2022 election, Albanese has pursued a more diplomatic approach towards China in order to improve and maintain a stable relationship with Australia’s top trading ally, while also acknowledging any potential areas of conflict.

Albanese said his meeting Monday with Chinese President Xi Jinping was “one of goodwill.” He said he raised the case of the Australian writer and democracy activist Yang Hengjun, who has been detained by China for almost five years.

The Australian government is optimistic that China will lift its remaining restrictions on exports, such as seafood and beef, by the end of the year. China has also announced a five-month evaluation of the tariffs it placed on Australian wine.

Albanese informed journalists in Beijing that his discussions with the Chinese leader covered a wide range of topics.

During their meeting, he mentioned conversing with President Xi about global matters and the significance of maintaining stability in the area, as well as keeping channels of communication open. The two also talked about their countries’ relationship, and he brought up concerns regarding consular and human rights matters.

However, Senator Simon Birmingham of the Liberal Party stated on Tuesday in an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corp. that the government in Canberra must stay alert to China’s goals.

The speaker stated that top security officials from Australia and other countries have issued new cautions about the level of Chinese cyber spying. They also mentioned that the Chinese navy has displayed aggressive behavior towards the Philippines in the South China Sea. Despite the potential benefits of this visit, the Albanese government should not overlook the challenges that exist.

Approximately one third of Australia’s international trade is with China. Experts suggest that China heavily relies on Australian raw materials, such as iron ore and liquefied natural gas, in order to develop its economy.

Albanese extended an invitation to Xi for a future visit to Australia, and in turn, the Chinese president invited the Australian prime minister to visit China and explore other regions of the country.

Source: voanews.com