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Australia has revived its trade relationship with China without compromising any of its national interests, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says.
Mr Albanese fielded questions from journalists at a major Asia-Pacific economic forum in Peru on Saturday following an editorial in a prominent Beijing mouthpiece praising the Australian leader’s “strategic autonomy” in ensuring the countries’ ties “are in both parties’ interests”.
He insisted he would balance Australia’s relationship with China and the US under a second Trump administration while noting the nation’s relationship with the Pacific “has never been stronger”.
“We’re in a period of strategic competition,” Mr Albanese told reporters.
Asked whether he agreed with the China Daily’s assessment of him being a model for other leaders to emulate when balancing relations with Beijing and the US, Mr Albanese said he was “not a commentator” but would continue to engage in Australia’s national interest.
“What I’ve done with China is work in the way that we said we would before the election,” he told those gathered on the sidelines of the annual Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders summit.
“We said we would co-operate where we can, we would disagree where we must, and we would engage in our national interests.
“I’ve done that without compromising any of Australia’s national interests.”
Pivoting to Australia’s “very different” relationship with the US, Mr Albanese noted the nation’s “different political system(s) and different values”.
“We will point that out where it’s appropriate, but we will also try to co-operate where we can,” he said.
“That is in Australia’s national interests.
“It’s (also) in Australia’s national interest to support and continue to engage with our allies in the United States.”
Mr Albanese reminded other international leaders he continued to be a strong supporter of AUKUS.
“I have engaged with my party to ensure that that support is ongoing (and) I’ve been prepared to have the debate and have the arguments and to succeed in ensuring that we go forward with that,” he said.
“At the same time, I believe as a trading nation we have an interest in trade, and we have an interest in Australian jobs being created and boosting Australian prosperity by engaging in our region – including with our major trading partner, the major destination for our exports, which is China.”
Although Mr Albanese did not talk to President Xi during any of the closed summits he praised the enormous opportunity for trade between the APEC partners.
“This is the fastest growing region in the world in human history,” he said.
“There’s an increase in our export to China (and) we’ve done that without compromising any of Australia’s values, by being clear about what our views are.”
Mr Albanese previously met with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto and Peruvian President Dina Boluarte on the sidelines of the summit in Lima in an attempt to promote and bolster Australia’s trade interests.
Mr Trump has flagged tariffs on imports to the US of between 10 and 20 per cent, and up to 60 per cent on Chinese goods.
That has led nations to pivot their trade priorities, including potential shifts towards China but also among the middle nations in the region.
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