Chinese premier Li Qiang could visit Uluru next year, PM says
The Prime Minister says he’s “optimistic” about the future of global trade as he prepares for China’s premier to visit Australia next year.
As he wrapped up his visit to the APEC summit in South Korea, Anthony Albanese said China’s Li Qiang could travel to Uluru on his next trip to Australia.
Mr Albanese said he encouraged his counterpart to do so when the pair met in Malaysia on Monday, arguing the visit could bring tourism benefits for the region.
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By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.“I think that would be a very good thing to showcase Central Australia to what is, after all, well over a billion people,” he told Sky News on Sunday.
Premier Li last visited Australia in mid-2024, which was widely seen as a warming of ties between Canberra and Beijing.
While Mr Albanese met with a number of world leaders on the sidelines of APEC, the summit was overshadowed by major talks between the American and Chinese presidents in the South Korean port city of Busan.
Mr Albanese said the meeting between Donald Trump and Xi Jinping was a “breakthrough”.
“That’s how you get understanding,” he said.
“Trade disruption hurts the entire global economy, so it’s in everyone’s interest for this to be progressed.”
The US and China have agreed to wind back some trade restrictions after Mr Trump slapped tariffs on goods linked to production of the drug fentanyl, and Mr Xi clamped down on the sale of crucial rare earth metals to the west.
Both barriers will now be eased.
Mr Albanese also indicated he had written to the Turkish prime minister as Australia tries to negotiate hosting rights for the UN climate conference in 2026.
Turkey has lodged a rival bid for the COP event and is refusing to budge.
Mr Albanese expressed frustration about the way hosting rights were decided, saying there was no real process to finalise the matter.
“They’re supposed to occur by consensus. It’s hard when there’s no consensus,” he said.
Australia’s bid is in conjunction with Pacific nations, which Mr Albanese said were particularly vulnerable to climate change.
“This is an existential threat to their very existence,” he said.
