Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has concluded an official visit to the People’s Republic of China, a significant step forward in stabilising relations between Australia and China.
This visit demonstrated Australia’s commitment to dialogue as the most effective way to deliver our national interests.
In Shanghai, the Prime Minister attended the China International Import Expo to showcase Australia’s world-leading exports.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: I am very pleased to be concluding a very successful visit to China, the first Australian Prime Minister to visit since 2016.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will travel to Cook Islands from 7-9 November 2023 for the Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Leaders' Meeting.
This will be his first visit to Cook Islands as Prime Minister and his second time attending a PIF Leaders' Meeting.
Australia is a proud founding member of the PIF, which has brought the Pacific's leaders together annually for more than 50 years to discuss shared challenges and regional solutions.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: It's wonderful to be here in the Cook Islands at the Pacific Islands forum. This is an important gathering of the Pacific family, which Australia plays a critical role. And we've received a very warm welcome here at the beginning of the conference. It is continuing, and then we will then have the Leaders Retreat this evening and then into tomorrow at Aitutaki.
Today, we, the Prime Minister of Tuvalu and the Prime Minister of Australia, are pleased to announce an elevation of our bilateral relationship to a more advanced, integrated and comprehensive partnership – the Falepili Union.
Falepili is a Tuvaluan word for the traditional values of good neighbourliness, care and mutual respect. These are the values that underpin our partnership and guide our commitments to each other.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese met Pacific Leaders at the 52nd Pacific Islands Forum from 7–9 November in Cook Islands.
The Prime Minister's attendance at the Leaders' Meeting demonstrates Australia's commitment to deepening its engagement in the Pacific and addressing the shared challenges facing us all, including shaping a peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific, and the impacts of climate change.
The Prime Minister briefed Leaders on the Government's action to reduce Australia's emissions and build our clean energy industries.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, it is wonderful to be here in Beijing following a very successful visit in Shanghai. The trade fair yesterday was a real highlight. Some 250 Australian businesses. What it shows is that trade is about Australian jobs. And that's what my Government is about. A Government has created, on our watch, over half a million jobs in under our first half of the term. More jobs created in our first term already than any previous new government in Australia's history since Federation.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: We've just concluded two very successful meetings. Firstly, I met with Chairman Zhao, the equivalent of our Speaker in the National People's Congress. That was an important meeting to discuss the bilateral relationship, and to discuss future cooperation, including exchanges between representative groups between our two countries. We spoke about the importance of continuing to have dialogue. And it was a constructive discussion. We then met with President Xi.
PRESIDENT XI JINPING, PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: Prime Minister, it's so nice to welcome you to Beijing.
And the Ministers and other members of the Australian delegation.
Before taking office you visited China many times.
After taking office, you've been working to stabilise and improve relations with China.
This visit shows the great importance you attach to relations with China.
Mr Prime Minister, your visit this time is of double significance.