Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to make history with his upcoming visit to China, marking the first visit by an Australian leader since 2016. This visit comes at a crucial time as it provides an opportunity to reset ties between the two nations in the midst of a complex global landscape.
Over the past few years, relations between Australia and China have been strained, resulting in disruptions and challenges in bilateral interactions and cooperation. However, both sides have recently made joint efforts to improve relations, demonstrating a willingness to find common ground and manage their differences.
The relationship between Australia and China has always been of mutual interest and importance, with significant growth in trade and people-to-people exchanges over the past half-century. The two-way trade volume between the countries has surged from less than 100 million U.S. dollars in 1972, when diplomatic relations were established, to over 220 billion U.S. dollars in 2022. Furthermore, Chinese mainland students accounted for 25 percent of the 620,000 international students in Australia last year, illustrating the strong educational ties.
In addition to economic cooperation, Australia and China have vast opportunities for collaboration in emerging areas such as energy transition and climate change. Prime Minister Albanese has announced that discussions during his visit will focus on economic and climate cooperation, along with people-to-people exchanges. He will also attend the 2023 China International Import Expo, a globally attended trade promotion platform.
However, challenges remain in the path towards fully warming up relations. Australia’s imprudent actions regarding Taiwan and the hawkish perceptions of China indicate that there are still obstacles to overcome. Looking back at history, it is crucial to draw lessons from previous efforts to improve relations. Prime Minister Albanese’s visit coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first visit to China by an Australian prime minister, Gough Whitlam, in 1973. Whitlam’s diplomatic approach and efforts to establish diplomatic ties broke through the prevailing mistrust towards China in Western countries at that time.
Since his election last year, Albanese has shown progress in stabilizing China-Australia ties. However, achieving a more stable and long-term relationship requires a strategic vision and political determination. It is essential for Australia to maintain strategic independence and avoid taking sides between the United States and China. Acting as a pawn of others could eventually harm Australia’s own interests.
Overall, Prime Minister Albanese’s historic visit to China holds significant importance in the efforts to reset and strengthen the ties between the two nations. As both countries navigate their place on the global stage, finding common ground and managing differences will be crucial for building a healthy and mutually beneficial relationship.
