At the invitation of Sue Lines, President of the Australian Senate, and Milton Dick, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of China’s National People’s Congress, visited Australia on a state visit from November 22 to 25.
During the visit, Zhao met with Australia’s Governor-General David Hurley in Canberra, attended a working breakfast hosted by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, and held meetings with Senate President Sue Lines and House Speaker Milton Dick.
In his meeting with David Hurley, Zhao conveyed the sincere greetings and best wishes of Chinese President Xi Jinping. He noted that, under the strategic guidance of President Xi and Australian leaders in recent years, China–Australia relations have returned to a stable and positive path. He highlighted that the economies of China and Australia are mutually complementary, practical cooperation is strong, and the potential for collaboration is immense. China is committed to deepening exchanges and cooperation with Australia across various fields and building a more stable and fruitful overall strategic partnership.
In response, David Hurley emphasized that Australia and China have enjoyed strong cooperation in trade, culture, and education, with bilateral relations steadily deepening. He noted that China will host the APEC Summit in 2026, which is crucial for promoting and revitalizing multilateralism, and expressed hope for its success. Hurley also stated that Australia is eager to expand cooperation with China in areas such as green infrastructure, energy transition, climate change, and women’s rights.
At the working breakfast hosted by Prime Minister Albanese, Zhao Leji remarked that China–Australia relations have already begun to recover, with renewed dialogue and cooperation widely welcomed and supported in both countries. He stressed that there are no fundamental conflicts of interest between China and Australia. China remains committed to peaceful development, high-quality growth, and expanding high-level openness, while seeking to share opportunities for mutual benefit with all countries, including Australia. Zhao also highlighted the need to further consolidate and deepen cooperation in energy and minerals, science and technology innovation, the digital economy, and infrastructure. Regarding Taiwan, Hong Kong, Sichuan, Xinjiang, and the South China Sea, he emphasized these issues relate to China’s territorial integrity and core national interests and expressed hope that Australia will understand and respect China’s positions.
Prime Minister Albanese stated that the foundation of Australia–China relations is currently strong. Australia is committed to strengthening cooperation with China and supporting the country’s hosting of the APEC Summit next year. He noted that bilateral trade has grown rapidly in recent years, and tourism, education, and cultural exchanges are providing young people from both nations opportunities to experience different cultures, fostering long-term friendship. Australia is eager to maintain regular communication with China and ensure that bilateral relations continue along a path of stable development.
Source: Shishir–Alim–Mukta, China Media Group