China Seeks Stronger Ties with Australia Amid Trump Tariff Turmoil
- admin928749
- 6 hours ago
- 2 min read
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called for stronger cooperation between China and Australia, saying both countries should work together in the face of global uncertainty and rising protectionism.
Speaking at a high-profile CEO roundtable in Beijing — which included Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and major business leaders from both countries — Li warned that the international trade landscape is shifting fast, and not always for the better.
“There are more and more destabilising factors and growing uncertainty,” Li said. “Trade frictions and protectionist measures are on the rise. That’s why China and Australia need to stick together and promote open trade.”
The timing of his comments is interesting. They come against the backdrop of ongoing US-China trade tensions, particularly under former President Donald Trump, who slapped steep tariffs on Chinese goods. Australia, meanwhile, has largely avoided similar pressure — although China did hit some Aussie exports with tariffs during a tense period in relations.
That friction was triggered by Australia’s call for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19, which didn’t sit well with Beijing. But things have calmed since then. In fact, Li praised the “resilience” and “vitality” of the Australia-China trade relationship, despite what he called “some twists and turns.”
And there’s reason to be optimistic — many of those tariffs have now been dropped, giving Australian exporters a boost. Albanese welcomed the improved trade ties, noting that Australia’s exports to China have doubled in the decade since a free trade agreement was signed.
“This is a really important moment for both our countries,” Albanese said. “Yes, we’ve had challenges, but we’ve also had shared successes. Now we need to work together on common challenges ahead.”
The PM also said this latest roundtable sends a strong message back home: that Australia values its relationship with China, not just for economic reasons but also for the stability of global trade.
Political experts say China’s warm tone is no accident.
“It’s a signal to Australia,” said analyst Simon Jackman. “Basically, China’s saying, ‘You can trust us — maybe even more than the US right now.’”
And public opinion might be shifting. According to the latest Lowy Institute poll, trust in China has actually ticked up slightly, while trust in the US has dropped — especially during Trump’s second term. Only 20% of Australians say they trust China, but that's up three points. Trust in the US, meanwhile, has fallen 20 points to 36%.
The roundtable event — hosted by the Business Council of Australia and the China Development Bank — was held in Beijing for the first time since 2016. And the focus was clear: more trade, more cooperation, and more Australian products on Chinese shelves.
“We talked about everything from green steel to Aussie beef and rice,” said BCA boss Bran Black. “Trade supports one in four Australian jobs — so growing our relationship with China is absolutely vital.”
The meeting followed Albanese’s headline visit with President Xi Jinping, signaling a possible new chapter in Australia-China ties.
In a world full of economic headwinds, both sides seem ready to move forward — and do more business.
Stay tuned with Aus News Lanka – the leading platform for news for Australians.
Comments