PM to walk diplomatic tightrope in crucial China visit
Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister.
The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting.
Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas.
After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings.
But tensions remain fraught.
China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra.
A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted.
The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship.
Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds.
Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts.
"We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links.
China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner.
Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined.
The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank.
Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley.
This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities.
The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy.
"We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said.
"But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement."
Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion.
"Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson.
"For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain."
Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology.
Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations.
On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency Trip.com to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia.
The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China.
Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister.
The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting.
Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas.
After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings.
But tensions remain fraught.
China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra.
A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted.
The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship.
Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds.
Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts.
"We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links.
China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner.
Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined.
The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank.
Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley.
This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities.
The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy.
"We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said.
"But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement."
Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion.
"Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson.
"For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain."
Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology.
Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations.
On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency Trip.com to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia.
The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China.
Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister.
The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting.
Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas.
After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings.
But tensions remain fraught.
China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra.
A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted.
The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship.
Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds.
Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts.
"We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links.
China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner.
Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined.
The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank.
Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley.
This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities.
The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy.
"We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said.
"But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement."
Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion.
"Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson.
"For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain."
Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology.
Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations.
On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency Trip.com to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia.
The prime minister faces a precarious task navigating Australia's complex relationship with its most important trading partner as he embarks on a week-long voyage to China.
Collaborating on new technologies and building inter-personal ties will be the focus of Anthony Albanese's second trip to the Asian powerhouse as prime minister.
The visit will centre on the annual Australia-China leaders' meeting with Premier Li Qiang, while he will also have a one-on-one with President Xi Jinping - the pair's fourth formal meeting.
Mr Albanese flies out of Sydney to the financial hub of Shanghai on Saturday morning, before visits to the capital Beijing and Chengdu in the southwestern province of Sichuan, known as the home of giant pandas.
After relations between China and Australia soured during the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor's election in 2022 precipitated a normalisation in trade and dialogue, with a return to regular high-level meetings.
But tensions remain fraught.
China's military assertiveness in the region is an increasing concern for Canberra.
A People's Liberation Army navy vessel ruffled feathers among Australian security circles in February, when it circumnavigated the continent and conducted live fire drills, causing commercial flights to be diverted.
The plight of jailed Chinese-Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who is serving a suspended death sentence in China over espionage charges, is also straining the relationship.
Meanwhile, Beijing has taken issue with Australia's commitment to end Chinese-owned company Landbridge's 99-year lease of Darwin Port early on security grounds.
Mr Albanese said he would raise the full range of issues with his Chinese counterparts.
"We co-operate where we can, we disagree where we must and we're able to have those honest conversations about some of the disagreements that are there," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
But the main focus of the trip will be growing business links.
China is far and away Australia's biggest trading partner.
Two-way trade between the nations in 2024 was valued at $312 billion, more than the nation's three next-biggest partnerships combined.
The prime minister will be accompanied by a high-powered delegation of business leaders, including from mining giants Rio Tinto, BHP and Fortescue, steelmaker BlueScope, universities Monash and UNSW, and Macquarie Bank.
Mr Albanese's first term focused on removing trade restrictions on several of Australia's traditional key exports to China - including beef, wine and barley.
This trip will look to build on those areas while developing new economic opportunities.
The prime minister was coy on whether he backed Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian's calls for an expanded free-trade agreement encompassing artificial intelligence, healthcare and clean energy.
"We'll engage constructively across the range of issues and the range of potentials that's there," Mr Albanese said.
"But certainly, in the areas such as green energy, for example, there is a real prospect of further engagement."
Green steel, in particular, will be the topic of much discussion.
"Chinese policymakers and steelmakers are serious about decarbonising the steel sector, because they have to be," said Australia China Business Council president David Olsson.
"For Australia, this presents a generational opportunity. We're one of the world's largest iron ore suppliers, and we have the renewable energy, industrial capability and investment capital to move further down the value chain."
Rio Tinto's Australian chief executive Kellie Parker said it was a valuable opportunity to deepen collaboration between suppliers and steelmakers in developing the technology.
Mr Albanese will also aim to highlight the people-to-people links between the two nations.
On Sunday, he will meet with former Socceroo Kevin Muscat, who now coaches Chinese Super League club Shanghai Port FC, and will visit the headquarters of online travel agency Trip.com to help promote Chinese tourism to Australia.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
SBS Australia
16 minutes ago
- SBS Australia
Australia's hermit crabs are in demand globally but some want the trade banned
A push to export hermit crabs from Western Australia has sparked criticism, with one political party calling to ban the trade over concerns about animal welfare and environmental impact. Merv Cooper runs Crazy Crabs in Western Australia — a business operating since 1979, specialising in the sale of Australian land hermit crabs. He sells these to Australian pet stories, and also exports them internationally to locations including Hong Kong and the United States. But his export permit expired late last year and the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) is now assessing a three-year extension — a move the Animal Justice Party says would be "reckless and short-sighted". SBS News attempted to contact Cooper for comment but he was unavailable. Experts say it's difficult to know whether harvesting the crustaceans is sustainable, due to regulatory gaps in Australia's hermit crab trade. A little-known industry The species — Coenobita variabilis — is endemic to Australia, found only along the north-western coast of Western Australia and in parts of the Northern Territory. In its proposal to the DCCEEW, Crazy Crabs said the business collects on average 30,000 crabs each. In summer, he and a small crew head out for four to six days at a time, collecting crabs at night on foot using torches and buckets. "Really small" crabs are left on the beach. It says collections happen "only a couple of times a year" and these don't "appear to have any detriment on populations". But reliable data on hermit crab harvesting is scarce. During a typical year, Merv Cooper collects 30,000 crabs from Western Australian beaches — which he sends off to pet shops across Australia. Source: Getty / Jamie La Australian states and territories are responsible for domestic trade, including licensing requirements. This makes it difficult to determine the exact number of active hermit crab export operators in Australia, the quantity of crabs they collect, and the potential impact of this activity. According to an ABC report in 2022, WA Fisheries data indicated around 80,000 land hermit crabs were collected by two active operators that year. At the time, they estimated the commercial value of a hermit crab licence to be between $1 million and $5 million. A DCCEEW spokesperson said the federal government "strictly regulates commercial trade in wildlife and wildlife products from Australian native species, such as hermit crabs. Animal Justice Party MPs say the application highlights a lack of scientific rigour in how such trades are assessed — and could open the door to further exploitation. "This proposal is a stark example of the federal government's failure to uphold rigorous scientific and environmental standards," said Victorian upper house MP Georgie Purcell, "Allowing the commercial export of a native species without comprehensive ecological assessments is reckless and short-sighted." WA upper house MP Amanda Dorn said she is concerned that if the trade is allowed to continue with little regulation, "fragile ecosystems" could be "irreversibly" damaged. In its proposal, Crazy Crabs said WA's Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development does not consider Coenobita variabilis to be in need of formal management plans for protection. It said the number of crabs and the locations where they were collected are reported monthly, as required by state licensing laws. "I have been collecting Hermit crabs for over 50 years and have never seen any need for restrictions," the proposal reads." I don't go to all places every year, hence there is always plenty of hermit crabs." Tim Nichols, a manager at WA Fisheries, told the ABC in 2022 the species was abundant and their population was unlikely to be affected by the current level of fishing. 'Relying on self-reporting': Expert raises concerns Kim Feddema, a wildlife trade expert and lecturer at Edith Cowan University, said the trade relies heavily on licence-holders to assess their own environmental impact, with no baseline population data or independent monitoring. "We need to understand how many hermit crabs are actually in those locations and what role they play in the broader ecology," she told SBS News. "Without baseline data, there's no way to judge the sustainability of this kind of trade." While the international export of native species is subject to federal regulation, hermit crabs are not formally listed as protected. Invertebrates often fall through regulatory gaps, Feddema said, because they're harder to monitor and traditionally not perceived as sentient. Kim Feddema, a wildlife trade expert, said more regulation is necessary in the industry to ensure the welfare of hermit crabs and to understand the environmental implications of their removal. Credit: Stephen Heath / Edith Cowan University Globally, land hermit crabs are harvested for both the pet and shell trade. While shells are often sold as decorations, Feddema notes they once housed live animals. "People often perceive [shells] to be empty, but there is a live animal within them before that stage," she said. Across Asia, including Thailand and Japan, this dual trade has already been linked to population declines. While Australia requires permits to collect hermit crabs at a commercial level, enforcement is limited and operators are not independently monitored. "We're relying on self-reporting here," Feddema said. "There's no verification of what's being collected or the long-term impact on local populations." Are hermit crabs suitable pets? Hermit crabs play a vital role in their native ecosystems, Feddema said, acting as "ecosystem engineers". They recycle shells that would otherwise be buried by sand, creating homes for algae, sponges, and other small organisms. They also help with nutrient recycling by scavenging on waste and decaying animals. But despite this ecological importance, hermit crabs are often marketed as low-maintenance pets — sold in pet stores and online — a characterisation Feddema said is misleading. She said in the wild, they can live for over thirty years. In captivity, however, their lifespans are often significantly shortened — sometimes surviving only a few months or years. She compared the industry to the "cut flower trade", where high mortality rates are treated as inevitable. "People sometimes treat pets the same way they treat cut flowers — that they'll have them for a short period of time and then accept a certain level of mortality," she said. In its proposal, Crazy Crabs said its experience in taking, holding and transporting hermit crabs "has reduced the mortality rate during transit to practical zero for the last ten years". Demand for rare and large individuals is also growing, raising concerns about overharvesting ecologically important crabs that produce a high number of offspring. Studies have shown hermit crabs exhibit signs of sentience, including problem solving, memory and a response to pain — which Feddema said challenges assumptions that invertebrates do not require additional welfare standards. "There is a question about how appropriate they are to be held in captivity," she said. "If the owner doesn't have the particular needs and they're not able to recognise the complexity of owning a hermit crab." She said reforms are urgently needed to assess population health and establish long-term data. "It is very possible that this is a trade that is sustainable, but we just can't make that decision without the data behind it."
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
Arts Centre builder's family home sold in Burwood
A Burwood home built by the man who helped supervise works on Melbourne landmarks including the Arts Centre and RMIT has sold to a local family who plan to preserve its character. The four-bedroom house at 30 Leopold St changed hands for $1.775m, with buyers drawn to its spacious floorplan, 836sq m block, and original features, including a spa, sauna and swimming pool, which were ahead of their time when built in the early 1970s. Buxton Mount Waverley's Peter Serafino said the home attracted strong local interest and was never seriously considered for demolition. Melb property market tipped to hit new record 'The buyers are a family from the area who fell in love with it,' Mr Serafino said. 'They're planning to renovate rather than rebuild, which is the perfect outcome. It's rare to find a home like this in such great condition.' Seller Leonie Vella, who grew up in the home with her sister Kim, said their late father John Vella was a construction supervisor who worked on the Arts Centre and the RMIT building. 'Dad was a builder through and through, but he also had heart,' Ms Vella said. 'He built this house for us. Every brick was perfectly placed, and Mum made sure it was always immaculate. 'It still has her curtains hanging from the '70s.' Ms Vella's late mother June played a major role in the home's interior and garden design. 'Mum had so much flair. She planted flowers along the brick walls and kept the formal lounge for Christmas only,' she said. 'It was pristine, but always warm. 'She took pride in every detail, right up to the end.' The property features two large living areas, a bar, terraced gardens, and an undercover alfresco area that once hosted pool parties, family milestones and holiday celebrations. 'We had every kind of event here, engagements, Christmases, sleepovers,' Ms Vella said. 'It was the kind of house that was always full of life and joy.' Ms Vella said knowing the home would be loved again gave the family comfort. 'That's what Dad would've wanted,' she said. 'There is this warmth that never left, like the love stayed in the walls.'
News.com.au
an hour ago
- News.com.au
The ‘new normal' leaving Aussie first homebuyers behind
In a modest suburb an hour southeast of Western Australia's capital city, Perth, a tiny three-bedroom home on a 187 square metre block is expected to sell for nearly $700,000. Just three years ago, the home in Piara Waters would have sold for around $450,000. This equal parts dramatic and depressing increase exemplifies what real estate agent Aman Singh describes as the 'new normal' in Perth's housing market. 'You have seen the demand. This property is the only one available within this price range. So people are jumping on it,' Mr Singh told Brooko Moves. 'What's applying in Piara Waters at the moment is demand and supply.' It's a staggering statement when you consider the national average block size for a three-bedroom, two-bathroom home is more than double at 450 square metres. Mr Singh's stark advice is further proof of a market that isn't just out of control, but out of reach for most first homebuyers. 'Put your best offer forward, there may not be a second opportunity,' he insisted. He added that many properties were receiving multiple offers and often exceeded the asking price by $30,000 to $40,000. Of course this surge in property prices is not isolated to Piara Waters, a fairly new concrete city estate development where houses are mere centimetres apart and green spaces are scant. Across Perth, the median house price rose to $855,395 as of June 2025, which was a 7.8 per cent increase from June 2024. Even more terrifyingly, analysts predicted growth of up to 10 per cent more by the end of the year. It's a challenging time to be a first homebuyer, to say the least. Mr Singh said about 70 to 75 per cent of interested buyers were first-timers, and many were beginning to display their frustration. 'First homebuyers are more emotional buyers and quite often disgruntled, missing out on properties one after another,' he said. 'By the time they reach the sixth property and make an offer, they expect it to be accepted.' Still, Mr Singh urged first homebuyers to get into the market ASAP. 'That's the only way to get out of the rent trap because you are ultimately paying for somebody else's mortgage.' He remained insistent that right now was the best time to buy, encouraging buyers to ignore the possibility of a slump in about two years. 'For everyone, especially first-time buyers, get into the market as soon as you can,' he said. 'I don't believe the market's going to come down anytime soon, at least not for the next two years.' The situation in Perth reflects a broader national trend. In the March quarter of 2025, the average price of a residential dwelling in Australia surpassed $1 million for the first time in another punch to the gut for first homebuyers across the country. Prospective buyers have no choice but to attempt to craftily navigate a property landscape marked by rapid price increases, intense competition and limited opportunities. The Great Australian Dream for a growing number of young Aussies is starting to look more like a very expensive joke.
