Latest news with #Australian-Chinese
West Australian
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- West Australian
Anthony Albanese receives light-hearted dressing down for Contiki-tour look during Great Wall of China visit
Anthony Albanese has received a light-hearted dressing down for dressing down on his visit to the Great Wall of China on Wednesday. Some media commented that he looked more like a Contiki-tour traveller than a Prime Minister, in stark contrast to his fiance Jodie Haydon who received plaudits for her costume choices throughout the six day trip. She made a fashion nod to her hosts at the Great Wall by wearing a $599 short-sleeve midi-dress with a floral print and mandarin collar by Leo Lin. 'As an Australian-Chinese brand, we are thrilled to see Jodie Haydon wearing Leo Lin in Leo's home country,' said Laura Good, head of brand at Leo Lin. Walking alongside her, Mr Albanese opted for a light blue polo shirt and baseball cap of his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs. There were also comments on social media deriding his casual attire as unstatesman-like. But others pointed out it would be too stuffy climbing the steps in anything more formal, especially on a hot day. There were negative comments about him looking even more blokey — wearing a Hawthorn Football Club shirt — when visiting visited a panda conservation centre in Chengdu on Thursday. But what is an Australian PM meant to wear to the zoo? Mr Albanese, who was similarly chided for wearing an Akubra to Pope Leo XIV's inauguration mass, will no doubt care more about whether his trip achieved its delicately navigated political aims. Some commentators pointed out his casual style, akin to many other Australian men in their 60s, and approachable ordinary-bloke persona was part of his political appeal and a factor in his stunning election victory in May. His predecessor Scott Morrison endured his own fashion critics and was accused of having a 'daggy dad' dress sense, when not in a suit. He also never lived down the loud tropical shirt he wore while holidaying in Hawaii during the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfires. Like Mr Albanese, Mr Morrison was fond of polo shirts and baseball caps, albeit for the Cronulla Sharks. Another former Liberal PM Tony Abbott had an excuse for his frequent over-exposure in budgie smugglers and lycra — it was an authentic accoutrement of his sporting hobbies. Former Foreign Minister Julie Bishop was a leader in fashion diplomacy on the international stage. The Perth politician and social queen made a point of supporting Australian designers at home and abroad. On the male side, few Australian leaders have looked as effortlessly stylish as former US president Barack Obama, who frequently appeared in GQ, Esquire and Vanity Affair. Paul Keating and Malcolm Turnbull and Paul Keating came closest, with their bespoke suits giving them extra presence when representing their country.
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'They remind me of the young Kennedys': The reason social media is comparing Jodie Haydon to Jackie Onassis during China trip with Albo
Australia's unofficial 'First Lady' Jodie Haydon has sent the internet into a frenzy after wearing a striking $599 dress during a visit to the Great Wall of China. Ms Haydon stepped out in the floral frock, designed by Chinese-Australian designer Leo Lin when she joined Anthony Albanese on a visit to the historic landmark on Wednesday. She paired the cotton dress with hand-painted daisies and camellias, cinched by a belt, and completed the look with a white fedora and sneakers for the event, while Mr Albanese opted for a blue polo, jeans, sneakers, and a white South Sydney Rabbitohs cap. The diplomatic fashion choice was lauded by many as a savvy nod to Australia's multicultural ties, and likened to the kind of sartorial diplomacy often practised by royals. "As an Australian-Chinese brand, we are thrilled to see Jodie Haydon wearing Leo Lin in Leo's home country," Leo Lin's head of brand, Laura Good told The Sydney Morning Herald. "Ms Haydon has been a strong supporter of the Leo Lin label for some time and we loved welcoming her in to our Sydney showroom ahead of the trip." Social media also lit up with praise, with one user posting on X: "Real leadership that Australia needs!!! Ms Jodie Haydon continues to be an amazing ambassador for Australia and especially Australian designers. She's wearing a design by Australian Chinese designers from Melbourne." "Ms Haydon is sheer class!" added another. Some admirers even drew comparisons to Camelot-era America: "These 2 are the Royal Family of Australia – like the early Kennedys. Real and adorable," one wrote. Not everyone was impressed, however, with one critic commenting that the couple's appearance resembled "trailer trash". The Great Wall visit marked a symbolic moment for Albanese, echoing former Labor leader Gough Whitlam's 1971 visit as Opposition Leader. Whitlam went on to establish diplomatic ties with China in 1973, paving the way for the modern Australia-China relationship. Ms Haydon's look also drew parallels with Tamie Fraser, wife of former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, who wore a similarly belted floral dress during her own Great Wall appearance in 1976. Speaking at the historic site, Mr Albanese told reporters the setting represented both history and harmony. "We are literally standing on history, history in recognition of the longevity of Chinese culture and Chinese achievement," he said. He also spoke about his meeting with China's top leader, Xi Jinping, in Beijing, the day prior. "Yesterday was an opportunity as well for us to develop the relationship between Australia and China," he said. "I've said consistently that we'll cooperate where we can, disagree where we must, but engage in our national interests." Following their visit to the Great Wall, the couple travelled to a panda conservation centre in Chengdu, wrapping up their six-day diplomatic mission to China.
Canberra Times
7 days ago
- Business
- Canberra Times
Footballers and movie stars: PM's Shanghai tourism push
"Not only is Australia's beef, barley, red wine and lobster the best in the world - we're the best place in the world to come for a holiday," Mr Albanese said. "Expanding our tourism relationship with China will mean more jobs for Australians and a boost to Australian businesses." The ad will feature Chinese cinema heartthrob Yu Shi - whose acting credits include appearances in the wildly popular fantasy trilogy Creation of the Gods - and Ruby the Roo, an animated kangaroo voiced by Australian actor Rose Byrne. The joint Australian-Chinese billing underscores Mr Albanese's mission to boost cultural and interpersonal links, as well as economic ones.
Perth Now
11-07-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Albo eyes tourism in six-day China trip
Anthony Albanese will hero Australia's tourism links with China during his six-day trip to Shanghai, Beijing and Chengdu, with the Prime Minister stressing the importance of the $312bn trading relationship. China is Australia's biggest trading partner, with the two-way goods and services trade larger than Australia's next three partners – Japan, South Korea and the United States – combined. In what will be Mr Albanese's second trip to China since becoming Prime Minister, Mr Albanese will engage in a spot of football diplomacy and hold a media event on Sunday with the Shanghai Port Football Club, which is led by ex-Socceroos defender Kevin Muscat. He will also visit the Shanghai headquarters of – the world's largest online travel sit and the parent company behind Skyscanner, Qunar and MakeMyTrip. In the 12 months to March 2025, 860,000 trips from mainland China to Australia were completed, representing a total spend valued at $9.2bn and about a quarter of total short-term international visitor spend in Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will depart for China on Saturday. NewsWire/ Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia Australia is China's largest market by spend and second in inbound tourist number behind New Zealand. Chinese tourists were a top five visitor market for every state and territory bar the NT in 2024, and the top international visitor market in NSW, Victoria and the ACT. While figures have yet returned to pre-pandemic levels, Australia was relisted as an approved destination for Chinese group tours in September 2023, with more than 4500 trips organised by travel agents completed since. Australia to China tourism levels have also surged by 73.6 per cent year-on-year to February 2025, with Aussie tourists eligible for visa-free travel for trips under 30 days. 'Australia's economic relationship with China is important, but so are the community links that underpin it and help build on it,' Mr Albanese said ahead of the visit. 'Whether that's our vibrant Australian-Chinese community, Australian footballers in Shanghai or Chinese tourists in Sydney.' Tourism will also likely be a key issue during Mr Albanese's visit to Chengdu in the country's southwest, which is the birthplace of Xing Qiu and Yi Lan – the two giant pandas at Adelaide Zoo. Giant Pandas Xing Qiu and Yi Lan at Adelaide Zoo. ZoosSA Credit: Supplied They've called Adelaide Zoo their home since December 2024. ZoosSA Credit: Supplied Trade talk will also be a key feature of talks, with the Business Council of Australia leading a delegation of leaders from the resources, banking and university sector for the Australia-China CEO Roundtable in Beijing. On Friday, Mr Albanese again summarised Australia's relationship with the superpower as 'agreeing and co-operating where we can, disagreeing where we must, but engaging in our national interest'. He said discussions will detail 'the full range of issues', with Australia also likely to speak about the detention of Australian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun and live fire drills undertaken by the Chinese navy in the Tasman Sea. 'Because engaging in our national interest is important for our security, to be able to raise issues in a one-on-one situation with the Chinese leadership,' he said. 'But of course, it's important for our economic relationship as well. The relationship with China means jobs in Australia. It's as simple as that.'
The Age
20-06-2025
- The Age
This old-school regional Chinese restaurant is a delicious time-warp to the 1970s
Shandong chicken is a highlight, with vinegar-sharp skin and juicy-enough flesh under a foliage of coriander. Mapo tofu eats more like a Country Women's casserole than anything from Sichuan, but it's exactly what you want on a cold Bowral night. The fried ice-cream is as good as it gets. Before Teresa and Michael took the keys, the dining room was shuttered for two months. Many locals were worried it wouldn't reopen – a place of countless first dates, final birthdays and celebrations gone forever. Like the wonderful Chan's Canton Village in Casula, which did permanently close last year, it's the kind of place that invites calls of 'It should be heritage-listed'. Maybe, but a listing can also bring about increased maintenance costs, and these Australian-Chinese institutions should function as restaurants, not museums. The best way to keep these regional institutions alive? Stop in for a Crown Lager and ham roll when next in town. Good Food Guide.
