Anthony Albanese calls for US-China dialogue, Australia to play ‘constructive middle power' after Beijing

West Australian

4 days ago

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has urged Beijing and Washington to step up communication between the two powerhouse countries as he pitches Australia playing a 'constructive' role as a middle power in a turbulent world.
The Prime Minister said Australia could be a 'calm, consistent and clear voice for stability, security, economic growth and certainty going forward'.
'I think we can play a positive role. We are US allies, but we have a constructive relationship with China,' Mr Albanese said following his high level meetings with China's top leadership during his six-day tour of the country.
'Australia as a middle power can play a positive and constructive role in the world. We are living in uncertain times and there is turbulence in the world.'
The Prime Minister invoked two Labor titans on his tour, first walking in the footsteps of Gough Whitlam as he visited the Great Wall of China and recalled how the former leader opened the door to Australia's modern day relations with Beijing by establishing formal diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China in 1972.
Mr Albanese also became the first Australian Prime Minister since Bob Hawke in 1986 to visit Chengdu in the southwest province of Sichuan.
Mr Hawke enjoyed access to the senior PRC leadership that was unmatched by other major Western leaders. Professor James Curran had previously highlighted in a 2023 research paper that Mr Hawke played a bridging role between China and the United States.
Mr Albanese said he did not view himself in a conduit role given the US and China had a separate relationship but he urged the two global giants to open up dialogue, similar to the 'communication mechanisms' the US and the Soviet Union adopted during the Cold War.
'It is in the world's interests that the two major powers are able to engage and where there are differences talk about them,' he said.
Mr Albanese's week-long, trade-focused trip drew together Australian and Chinese industry executives for roundtable talks on widening business collaboration and cooperation on green energy.
But the centrepiece of the visit was a series of bilateral meetings in Beijing with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Communist Party chief Zhao Leji, who all rolled out the red carpet treatment for Mr Albanese.
'I have a good relationship with the Chinese president and Premier and we met the number three, Chairman Zhao as well,' he said.
'We had a very constructive meeting, he'll lead a delegation to Australia later this year.
'Having two-and-a-half hours with Premier Li and two-and-a-half hours with President Xi sends a message to the whole of the Chinese government and therefore the whole of the Chinese economic system that they value the relationship with Australia.'
Mr Albanese agreed the goodwill of the past week would make it easier to pick up the phone to Beijing if there was a future crisis.
'I have been able to engage in a constructive way,' he said.
'We're able to have discussions both publicly and be able to act diplomatically.'