Opening Remarks – Bilateral Meeting – Bali, Indonesia
XI JINPING, PRESIDENT OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA: It gives me great pleasure to meet with Prime Minister Albanese. This is the first meeting, so I would like to congratulate you once again on your appointment as Prime Minister of Australia.
China-Australia relations had been at the forefront of China’s relations with developed countries for a long time, which is worth cherishing. In the past few years, China-Australia relations have encountered some difficulties, which we didn’t want to see, because both China and Australia are important countries in the Asia-Pacific region. We should improve, maintain and develop the relations between the two countries, which is in the fundamental interests of the two peoples and conducive to promoting the development of peace in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.
Mr Prime Minister, since you took office, you have spoken on some occasions about China-Australia relations, expressing many times that China-Australia relations will be handled in a mature way. I attach great importance to your opinion. Thank you.
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: Well, I thank you very much, Mr President. And I’m very pleased that we are having this meeting here today. It comes at a time of great global uncertainty. We are facing challenges of COVID and the recovery, dealing with climate change and also supply chain shocks. As we manage these challenges, we need to work towards a stable, prosperous and peaceful Indo-Pacific. And an international system that is governed by international law and the principles that are enshrined in the United Nations Charter.
We have had our differences. And Australia won’t resile from our interests or our values. But our bilateral relationship is an important one.
Both sides have worked to stabilise the relationship based upon mutual respect and mutual benefit. We will soon reach, of course, the milestone of 50 years of diplomatic relations when a former Labor Minister, Gough Whitlam, established diplomatic relations between Australia and the People’s Republic of China in 1972. We agreed on principles to guide the relationship based on equality, mutual respect and benefit, and a commitment to co-exist peacefully. And these principles remain important today.
President Xi, I look forward to a constructive exchange and dialogue today. I thank you.