Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier Li Qiang discuss improving relations

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese assured Premier Li Qiang on Thursday that Australia wants to build a stable and constructive relationship with China during their meeting in Jakarta, Indonesia on the sidelines of the East Asia Summit.

The meeting is the first one between Li and Albanese. Li said that with the joint efforts of both sides, China-Australia relations have continued to show positive improvement in the past year. He emphasized a healthy and stable China-Australia relationship is in line with the fundamental interests and common aspirations of the two peoples.

China is willing to work with Australia to quickly restart and resume exchanges in various fields, continue to promote dialogue and consultations in diplomacy, trade, education, consular affairs, and other areas, and provide solid support for the improvement and development of bilateral relations, the premier said.

Adhering to seeking common development while sharing opportunities for development, China will continue to expand high-level opening-up to provide a larger market for countries around the world, including Australia, he added.

Li expressed his hope that Australia will adopt an objective and fair attitude towards investment and operation by Chinese companies in Australia.

Both sides should handle differences properly in the spirit of mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, and promoting further improvement and development of bilateral relations, he said.

Noting the Asia-Pacific region is the common home of China and Australia, the premier said that China is willing to work with Australia to jointly safeguard peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region.

Albanese said that the Australia-China relationship is of great importance.

The Australian side is encouraged by the progress made in bilateral relations and is willing to promote dialogue and communication, deepen cooperation in economics, trade and other areas, expand people-to-people exchanges and properly manage differences, he told the Chinese premier.

Australia is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with China in international affairs and jointly address global challenges such as climate change, he added.

Albanese said in a media statement after the meeting with Li that he looks forward to visiting China later this year to mark the 50th anniversary of Prime Minister Whitlam's historic visit, referring to the first visit to China by an Australian leader, then prime minister Gough Whitlam, in 1973.