Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has held his first meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and a lot of ground was covered, 9News political editor Charles Croucher says.
“Just 32 minutes, that’s not enough to settle most neighbourhood disputes so there is still work to be done,” Croucher said.
“However, it is clear that the relationship between Australia and China is in a better place right now than it was just two hours ago.”
Albanese and Xi met on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, a significant step on the journey to repairing the relationship between the countries.
“Trade sanctions, imprisoned Australians, Chinese expansion, the war in Ukraine, particularly the way it hits Australian families and their hip pockets, and even nuclear war” were some of the many topics raised, Croucher said.
“It’s a lot to get through within just 32 minutes,” he said.
“Xi Jinping said it was a relationship that should be cherished.
“Both leaders acknowledged there had been difficulties in the past but this was a meeting six years in the making.”
Read Related Also: Mary Bruce Wikipedia, Biography, how old, Family, Siblings, Ethnicity, Husband, Kids, Profession, Salary & Extra.
Albanese said the leaders agreed there would be further dialogue.
“There, of course, already has been meetings between our foreign ministers and our defence ministers,” the prime minister said.
“We agreed that was a positive thing.”
Croucher said China’s president spoke of complimentary economies at the meeting, “however there was no movement on that $20 billion in tariffs that are currently in place”.
Albanese said it was a “positive discussion” where he put forward Australia’s position.
“It was not anticipated that a meeting such as that, that you get immediate declarations,” he said.
“I believe if people thought that would happen, then that was not realistic but it was very constructive.”
