Anthony Albanese has said he is “very positive” of ending long-standing trade tariffs on Australian produce with China.
Albanese met China’s Premier Li Qiang as part of the first visit to the nation by an Australian prime minister in seven years, with the trade war firmly on the agenda.
However, he gave little away ahead of his upcoming meeting with President Xi in Beijing.
“The views that he put forward in his speech today are consistent with the views that he put to me, where we spoke about the importance of the relationship, and the importance of China getting access to our wines,” he said.
Australia had pursued legal action over the tariffs through the World Trade Organisation (WTO) but suspended that in April of this year in an agreement that saw China review the restrictions.
“Our wine’s pretty good product. Our barely is the best in the world. It will be feeding into Chinese beer production,” Albanese said.
Don Farrell, Australia’s Trade Minister, who is on the trip, said a resumption of the trade in seafood and red meat could be expected soon.
“I raised those issues directly with my counterpart last night,” he said.
“I expect that as part of the stabilisation process that’s going on with with China, and as part of this our ambition to remove all of the impediments, I would expect that in a very short space of time.”
On a lighter note the prime minister addressed reports Australia’s only two giant pandas, which are currently on lease to Adelaide Zoo could return to China.
“It is it is obviously a positive thing, that they have been able to be there in Adelaide but my understanding is that pandas do get homesick,” he said.
“My understanding is that discussions between Adelaide Zoo and their Chinese counterparts are ongoing.
“But on behalf of Australia’s kids and families, I would like to see pandas maintain a presence in Australia.”
The prime minister will travel to Beijing later today.
