China, Australia agree to turn the page as tensions ease
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australias-albanese-retraces-historic-beijing-walk-visit-mend-ties-2023-11-06/
China, Australia agree to turn the page as tensions ease
By Ryan Woo
November 6, 2023 6:29 AM EST Updated 9 min ago
BEIJING, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that a "healthy and stable" relationship with Australia served each country's interests, and that it was important to move forward with strategic ties.
Mutual benefit is what China wants, Xi told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the first Australian leader to visit Beijing since 2016, as both men met at the Great Hall of the People in the heart of the Chinese capital.
A strong relationship between China and Australia "will be beneficial into the future," Albanese told Xi in their second face-to-face talks in a year.
On his visit, Albanese is seeking to mend relations between the trading partners after disputes in recent years - over issues ranging from security concerns to the origin of COVID-19 - triggered Chinese blocks on Australian products including wine, barley and beef.
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