The welcome was contrasted by chanting in the background, with a significant pro-China presence clashing with the Australian Tibetan community and the Hong Kong pro-democracy movement, vocally opposing Li’s visit.
Li’s visit started with a ceremonial welcome. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Police have been forced to intervene from time to time as the protesters confront one another.
The tense fighting paints a backdrop for tough questions, as Albanese is expected to raise trade, human rights and the South China Sea, which threatens the relationship’s thaw.
Pro-China demonstrators have arrived to show their support for the visit from premier Li Qiang. Source: AAP / Lukas Coch
Li declared that Chinese-Australian ties were “back on track after a period of twists and turns” when he arrived on the weekend, for the first visit by a Chinese premier in seven years.
China trade sanctions question lingers
Many of these sanctions have been lifted, with bans on the remaining lobster fisheries and beef abattoirs expected to end in the coming weeks.
“The battle here is going to be one of a whole host of specific granular policy areas where Beijing is trying to inch forward and get additional concessions from Canberra.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang met Agriculture Minister Murray Watt at a winery in South Australia, following the lift of a trade ban that affected wine exports in 2020 and 2021. Source: AAP / Kelly Barnes
“Canberra will be trying to hold the line, not give Beijing too much but also not once again enrage Beijing and prompt Beijing to impose trade restrictions once again.”
Critical minerals are a key component of the country’s energy transition and prime minister’s Future Made in Australia initiative, while there have long been global concerns about China’s control of a large part of the production.
Wong to advocate for detained Australian Yang Hengjun
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said on Sunday that Canberra would press Australian interests forcefully, including the case of Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who languishes ill in a Chinese jail.
“We will continue to advocate wherever we are able and we will continue to advocate for appropriate medical treatment” for Yang, Wong said when asked whether she would raise his ill health with Li.
Taiwan and South China Sea a ‘risky’ matter
“We will co-operate where we can, we will disagree where we must and we will engage in our national interest,” Wong said.
Source Agencies
