On the afternoon of November 6, 2023, President Xi Jinping met at the Great Hall of the People with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese who is on an official visit to China.
Noting that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Prime Minister Gough Whitlam's visit to China, Xi Jinping said Anthony Albanese's visit this time indeed builds on the past achievements and opens up new prospects. Thanks to the joint efforts of both sides, bilateral exchanges in various fields have resumed and ties between the two countries are on the right track of improvement & growth. Both China and Australia are countries in the Asia-Pacific region and important members of the Group of 20. Between China and Australia, there are no historical problems or conflicts of fundamental interests. The two sides are well positioned to be partners who trust each other and contribute to each other's success. The two sides should navigate China-Australia relationship through the profound changes in the world and keep it to the right direction. If one adopts a "my country first" perspective, the world will look small and crowded, fraught with risks and competition. But if one proceeds from a "community with a shared future" perspective, the world will be a vast place where opportunities and cooperation abound. In the stormy waters of the global crisis, countries are not riding in more than 190 separate small boats, but in a single giant ship with a shared future. China and Australia should follow the trend of the times, proceed from their common interests, and jointly foster a relationship in which there is equality, the pursuit of common ground and shelving of differences, and mutually beneficial cooperation, so as to keep moving forward China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership. This serves the common interests of the two countries and peoples, meets the common expectations of countries in the region, and helps the international community better respond to various risks and challenges caused by the profound changes in the world unseen in a century.
Xi Jinping stressed that at present, the world economy is fraught with increasingly destabilizing, uncertain and unpredictable factors, and the economies of all countries are facing considerable challenges. In the face of a complex external environment, China has withstood pressure, and improved the scale and quality of the economy, and China still has a sound foundation underpinning the development and many favorable conditions. China will add valuable certainty to the uncertain world economy with its steady development. China can hardly grow in isolation from the world. The world also needs China for development. The notions of "small yards and high fences", "decoupling and severing supply chains" and "derisking" are essentially protectionism and run counter to the laws of the market, the laws of scientific and technological progress, and the development trend of human society. China pursues a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up, and works to foster a new development paradigm, build itself into a strong country, and rejuvenate the Chinese nation on all fronts through Chinese modernization. All this will bring unprecedented opportunities to Australia and other countries in the world. China and Australia need to enhance mutual understanding and trust in peaceful coexistence, and realize shared development through mutually beneficial cooperation. The two sides need to give full play to the potential of the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, expand cooperation in emerging areas such as climate change and green economy, uphold the global and regional free trade systems, and provide a sound business environment for the investment and operation of each other's companies. The two governments need to support exchanges between legislative bodies, political parties, think tanks, youth and sub-national regions, create more convenient conditions for personnel exchanges, enhance mutual understanding and amity between the two peoples, and consolidate public support for friendship between the two countries. China does not seek to build small exclusionary clubs, or engage in group politics or camp-based confrontation in the Asia-Pacific. Small clubs will not solve the big challenges confronting the globe. Small groupings will not work in a world that is going through profound transformations. The two sides must stay vigilant against and oppose attempts at stoking chaos in the Asia-Pacific. China is ready to carry out more tripartite and multilateral cooperation with Australia to support South Pacific countries in strengthening development resilience, addressing climate change and other challenges, and safeguarding peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific through openness and inclusiveness.
Anthony Albanese said it is a great honor for him to pay an official visit to China on the historic occasion of the 50th anniversary of Mr. Gough Whitlam's visit to China. In recent years, China has made remarkable achievements in poverty alleviation and development. Australia and the world have greatly benefited from China's long-term, stable and sustained development. The two sides should respect each other, pursue equality and mutual benefit, maintain communication and exchanges, enhance understanding and cooperation, and achieve win-win results. Anthony Albanese said that the Chinese people also have the right to development, and he is always positive and optimistic about the prospects of China's economy. As Australia and China have different political systems, it is normal for the two sides to have disagreements, but they should not be allowed to define the bilateral relationship. Australia and China share broad common interests, and dialogue and cooperation are the right choice. Australia adheres to the one-China policy, and stands ready to work with China to actively promote the steady development of bilateral relations, enhance economic and trade exchanges, and strengthen cooperation in clean energy, climate change and other fields, so as to bring more benefits to the two peoples. Australia is willing to strengthen communication with China on the Pacific Islands Forum and other regional affairs.
Wang Yi was present at the meeting.
