Prime Minister Albanese, welcome to China again and congratulations again on your re-election. Over the past three years, you and I have met three times. During these meetings we had in-depth discussions on the strategic, overarching issues critical to the direction of China-Australia relations, and we reached many common understandings. With joint efforts from both sides, the China-Australia relationship has rose from the setback and turned around, bringing tangible benefits to the Chinese and Australian peoples. The most important thing we can learn from this is that a commitment to equal treatment, to seeking common ground while sharing differences, pursuing mutually beneficial cooperation, serves the fundamental interests of our two countries and two peoples. No matter how the international landscape may evolve, we should uphold this overall direction unswervingly. In 2014 I paid a state visit to Australia, during that visit our two countries announced the establishment of a comprehensive strategic partnership. Now this partnership has entered the second decade. The Chinese side is ready to work with the Australian side to push the bilateral relationship further and make greater progress so as to bring better benefits to our two peoples. I will stop here first, now over to you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER OF AUSTRALIA: Well thank you, Mr President, and it is my pleasure to meet with you again here today. This is my eight visit to China, but my second as Prime Minister, and I appreciate very much your hospitality. When Premier Li visited Australia last year for our Annual Leaders' Meeting, I was pleased he visited not only Canberra, but also Adelaide and Perth. And I know, President Xi, that you have visited every state and territory of Australia. I'm happy to be able to reciprocate Premier Li's visit by visiting three cities here in China this week - Shanghai where I have been, Beijing here, and Chengdu, where I will travel tomorrow afternoon. In Shanghai yesterday, I was very pleased to meet with leading businesses from Australia and China, including important discussions on how we can tackle steel decarbonisation together. In Chengdu tomorrow I will look at where Australia has growing ties, particularly on medical technology and sports. Tomorrow I'll also visit the Great Wall, where Australia's Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam, who of course, initiated the recognition of the People's Republic of China when he came as Labor Party Leader in 1971. In Beijing today, I look forward to a constructive Annual Leaders' Meeting with Premier Li, identifying opportunities for further practical cooperation in areas of shared interests, including steel decarbonisation. I note your comments in your opening remarks about seeking common ground while sharing differences, that approach has indeed produced very positive benefits for both Australia and for China. The Australian Government welcomes progress on cooperation under the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement, which has its 10th anniversary year. As a direct result, trade is now flowing freely to the benefit of both countries and to people and businesses on both sides, and Australia will remain a strong supporter of free and fair trade. Today also, we will have after this the Australia-China CEO Roundtable. What that will do is provide a practical example of the benefit of business engagement. Australia values our relationship with China and will continue to approach it in a calm and consistent manner, guided by our national interest, which we regard very much as the relationship being positive, which is just that. It is in our national interest, and indeed in the interest of the region as well. It's important we have the direct discussions on the issues that matter to us, and to the stability and prosperity of our region. As you and I have agreed previously, dialogue needs to be at the centre of our relationship, and I welcome the opportunity to set out Australia's views and interests and our thinking on how we can maintain peace, security, stability, and prosperity in our region. And I look forward very much to another productive conversation with you today, both at this meeting, and I thank you as well for the honour that you have given myself and Ms Haydon, my fiancé, in the lunch that we will share afterwards as well. Xiè xie.
