Australia’s Albanese to meet China’s Xi in Beijing this summer: source

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is set to become the latest world leader to travel to Beijing for trade talks, as countries around the world scramble to navigate the turbulence unleashed by US President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

The Australian leader is expected to arrive in the Chinese capital in July or August, a source with knowledge of the situation told the Post on condition of anonymity, with the European Union also scheduled to hold a crunch summit with China during the same period.

“Albanese is expecting to meet with [President] Xi Jinping during his visit,” the source said.

Since he was first elected in 2022, Albanese has worked to thaw the economic tensions with China caused by his more hawkish predecessors, paving the way for Beijing to ease import curbs on Australian coal, wine, lobster and other goods.

Engagement with China is expected to remain a priority for Albanese during his second term, after his Labor Party won a decisive victory over the opposition Liberal-National Coalition in Australia’s federal election last month.

“It’s a trip to engage with Australia’s largest trading partner,” the source said. “Australian people voted for Albanese again because he can stabilise the Australia-China relationship.”

South China Morning Post