Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will “ask tough questions” of China’s president during his upcoming visit to the country.
Albanese will travel to China on Saturday as part of the first visit by an Australian prime minister since 2016.
The trip coincides with an easing of tensions between the two countries, with China reducing tariffs on several Australian products.
Albanese said that while there had already been a thaw in diplomatic relations, he would be direct during his meeting with President Xi Jinping.
“Australians are quite direct and the Australian people want me to be direct about our interests,” he told ABC Radio on Tuesday.
Albanese will travel to China on Saturday as part of the first visit by an Australian prime minister since 2016.
‘Laying things out respectfully and directly is the way to achieve results, progress and progress in the relationship.
“China will also have differences with us and I hope they will communicate them directly to me while I am there.”
The premier will visit a trade fair in Shanghai and meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang before holding talks with President Xi in Beijing on Monday.
It is part of a whirlwind fortnight that has seen the Prime Minister visit the United States, followed by China and finishing in the Cook Islands next week.
China recently agreed to review its tariffs on Australian wine, after almost three years of embargoes.
The review raised hopes that China could review similar tariffs on the remaining products affected by the economic impediments.
Tariffs on barley were also recently resolved, but the Prime Minister said it “always poses impediments to Australian trade” because it is in the nation’s interest.
Positive signs also emerged in the relationship after China agreed to release jailed Australian journalist Cheng Lei.
The premier will visit a trade fair in Shanghai and meet Chinese Premier Li Qiang before holding talks with President Xi in Beijing on Monday.
Albanese said he planned to raise issues related to the South China Sea.
“This is an important step for Australia’s trade with Japan and Korea, and it is important that international laws are respected,” he said.
He denied that a recent visit to the United States could affect bilateral talks in China.
‘China knows that we are in our alliance with the United States. “They know we are a nation that stands up for human rights and the rule of law and they expect us to do so,” she stated.
“I’ve been direct about it and I think you’ve seen the improvement in the relationship partly because of the way we’ve run it.
‘We have differences and we are open and honest about them and we can talk about those issues. Of course, we have different political systems and different values.’