On the morning of June 17 local time, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang co-chaired the 9th China-Australia Annual Leaders’ Meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Parliament House in Canberra.

Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Australia and the establishment of China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, Li Qiang pointed out that the most important experience drawn from the past decade of development of China-Australia relations is that the two sides should respect each other, seek common ground while shelving differences and engage in mutually-beneficial cooperation. Li said since Prime Minister Albanese’s visit to China last November, more progress has been made in resuming and enhancing dialogue and cooperation between China and Australia in various fields, leading to the comprehensive turnaround of bilateral relations. China is ready to work with Australia to sustain and build up the hard-won positive momentum in bilateral ties, and jointly build a more mature, stable and fruitful comprehensive strategic partnership, to deliver more benefits to the two peoples.

Li Qiang pointed out that the China-Australia relationship is mutually beneficial in nature, and the two countries’ development is each other’s opportunities, not challenges. China is ready to work with Australia to uphold the comprehensive strategic partnership, give full play to such mechanisms as the China-Australia Strategic Economic Dialogue, scale up trade, actively expand cooperation in areas like new energy vehicles and renewable energy power generation, and step up exchanges and cooperation in culture, tourism and other fields and at the sub-national level. Li Qiang expressed the hope that Australia will foster a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese businesses, and provide more convenience for cross-border travel between the two countries. China is ready to step up coordination and cooperation with Australia at the regional and international level, and oppose bloc confrontation and a new Cold War in the broadest common interests of all parties, that is, safeguarding peace and stability in the region. The two sides should also remain open and inclusive, pursue common development, and work jointly to advance regional economic integration and build an open world economy.

Albanese noted that the Australian side is pleased to see bilateral relations stabilized and moving in a positive direction. Australia upholds the one-China principle, and does not support “Taiwan independence”; supports China’s development and prosperity, and highly appreciates China’s significant contributions to the global poverty alleviation endeavor. He said Australia is ready to maintain dialogue and communication with China, and will take the opportunity of the 10th anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership to deepen cooperation in such areas as economy and trade, energy, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, environmental protection, and climate change response. Australia is also ready to step up exchanges between legislatures of the two countries, and work to prevent bilateral relations from being defined by differences, and promote sustained improvement and development of Australia-China relations. Australia welcomes more Chinese students and tourists to study and travel in the country.

The two prime ministers agreed to uphold the China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership, consolidate the momentum of improvement and growth in bilateral relations, and jointly safeguard regional and global peace, stability and prosperity. The two sides announced that they will hold the 10th meeting of the Joint Science and Technology Commission, the 8th China-Australia High-Level Dialogue, and the 8th China-Australia Ministerial Dialogue on Climate Change in Australia within this year. China will include Australia in its unilateral visa waiver program, and the two sides agreed to provide each other with reciprocal access to multiple-entry visas of up to three to five years’ duration for tourism, business, and visiting family members.

The two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of mutual interest.

After the meeting, the two prime ministers jointly witnessed the signing of multiple bilateral cooperation documents on trade, education, climate change response, and culture, among others, and jointly met the press.

Before the meeting, Prime Minister Albanese held a grand welcoming ceremony for Premier Li Qiang at the square of the Parliament House where a 19-gun salute was fired, and the national flags of China and Australia fluttered high in the sky. The guard of honor performed rifle salute, and the military band played the national anthems of the two countries. Li Qiang reviewed the guard of honor.

Wu Zhenglong was present at the above events.