Albanese Set to Meet Xi Jinping and Li Qiang in Beijing Summit

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is visiting China from 12 July 2025, meeting President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang during a six-day diplomatic mission that includes stops in Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu. The visit aims to strengthen economic ties while addressing sensitive issues such as China’s growing military activity and human rights concerns. Critics have questioned whether the Labor government is placing too much emphasis on trade at the expense of national security.

This is Albanese’s second visit to China since 2023 and includes the Annual Leaders’ Meeting with Premier Li, along with formal talks with President Xi. He is accompanied by senior executives from Macquarie Bank, Rio Tinto and BHP, reflecting the government’s focus on promoting business engagement. Speaking to Shanghai Communist Party Secretary Chen Jining, Albanese said, “The relationship with China means jobs in Australia.” China remains Australia’s largest trading partner, with two-way trade reaching approximately $312 billion in 2024.

Although the primary focus of the trip is economic cooperation, security concerns remain central. Albanese is expected to raise issues such as China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea, military surveillance near Australian waters, and the detention of Australian writer Yang Hengjun, who received a suspended death sentence in early 2024. The Prime Minister has reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to the AUKUS security pact with the United States and the United Kingdom, a defence agreement strongly opposed by Beijing.

Strategic analysts have warned that trade and security cannot be viewed in isolation. Justin Bassi, Executive Director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, told The Australian that China’s strategic ambition makes it impossible to separate economic engagement from national security risks. Human rights groups have also urged the government to speak more forcefully on China’s record, especially in the context of ongoing detentions and censorship.

Another point of contention is the Port of Darwin, leased to Chinese company Landbridge in 2015. Albanese has confirmed that the federal government continues to review the lease, with Treasurer Jim Chalmers stating that any decision will prioritise Australia’s sovereignty and long-term interests.

While the Prime Minister has framed the trip as part of a strategy to stabilise the Australia–China relationship, some observers remain sceptical. On social media platform X, one user wrote that Albanese’s approach “ignores the broader pattern of Beijing’s dominance, which is about more than just trade.” With global alliances in flux and tensions between the United States and China continuing, the outcomes of this visit could shape Australia’s foreign policy direction well beyond 2025.