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Australian Prime Minster Albanese Visits China, Meets with Chinese President Xi Jinping

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s visit to China, marked by active participation in the CIIE and strategic talks, emphasized the bilateral efforts to enhance trade relations and revive the diplomatic relationship between the two countries.

On November 4, 2023, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese embarked on a significant four-day visit to China, highlighting the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Australia’s inaugural embassy in the country.

Kicking off his journey in Shanghai, he actively participated in the opening ceremony of the sixth China International Import Expo (CIIE) and led a delegation to engage with various Australian companies’ exhibition booths, fostering dialogue and cooperation between the two nations. Subsequently, in Beijing, Albanese met with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with the aim to further strengthen and advance Australia’s relationship with China .

Albanese’s much-anticipated visit to China marks the first trip by an Australian leader to the country since 2016, and notably his first visit as Prime Minister. It comes as a crucial step in ongoing efforts to mend strained relations, addressing critical challenges within the Sino-Australian relationship.

Albanese’s proactive approach in fostering constructive dialogue and cooperation reflects his commitment to rebuilding trust and understanding between the two nations, while also improving economic ties.

Albanese’s visit agenda

Albanese’s visit to China aims to bolster bilateral trade relations and address crucial market concerns, recognizing the substantial impact on Australia’s trade-dependent employment sector. His joint presence with Trade Minister Don Farrell at the CIIE serves to reinforce the positive momentum, signaling a commitment to expanding market access and imports.

Notably, with one in four jobs in Australia being trade-dependent, the prime minister’s active involvement in reinvigorating trade ties underscores the paramount importance of the economic partnership between the two nations.

Moreover, the Australian leader’s characterization of the relationship as “mature” underscored the depth of the bilateral ties and the acknowledgment of the mutually advantageous nature of their economic collaboration. Additionally, his emphasis on the role of rules-based trade in ensuring stability highlights the necessity of a structured framework for sustained prosperity and growth.

Albanese-Xi meeting

During the meeting on November 6, 2023, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Prime Minister Albanese and President Xi discussed the benefits of the longstanding diplomatic relationship. President Xi expressed satisfaction with the progress of the relationship and emphasized the need for continued strategic partnership.

The Australian leader emphasized the rapport being built between the two countries, highlighting the positive interactions and mutual respect. Recognizing the differences in political systems and values, Albanese emphasized dealing with each other on face value, prioritizing the representation of Australia’s national interests.

This diplomatic exchange underlines the significance of fostering constructive dialogue and mutual understanding between the two nations.

Australia’s participation at the China International Import Expo

Albanese’s participation at the CIIE was underscored by the active involvement of over 250 Australian firms. The Australian pavilion at the Food and Agriculture Pavilion, along with the dedicated exhibition halls for Australia’s Queensland and Victoria states, highlighted the diversity and strength of the Australian trade contingent. The “Taste Queensland” Pavilion at the CIIE, has showcased products from 25 different Queensland companies.

Queensland Governor Annastacia Palaszczuk’s leadership in the largest trade delegation in Queensland’s history accentuated the significance of the bilateral trade relationship, emphasizing a strategic push to fortify Queensland’s ties with China and broaden the scope of collaboration. China remains Queensland’s largest export market for goods, valued at AUD23.7 billion (US$15.4) as of September 2023. Additionally, China is one of Australia’s top ten investment destinations and a significant investor in Queensland. The country also represents the largest source of international student enrollments in Queensland, serving as a key market for international education institutions and industry.

Numerous small and medium Australian enterprises (SMEs) specializing in areas such as food, beverages, and healthcare aspire to increase awareness of their products among Chinese consumers through their participation in the CIIE. Additionally, they aim to leverage e-commerce platforms to expand their market reach in China.

The robust participation of Australian businesses at the expo also exemplifies the renewed sentiment of deepening collaboration between China and Australia, reflecting a concerted effort to revitalize and strengthen bilateral trade relations.

The relationship between China and Australia is primarily built upon a robust foundation of economic and trade ties. This is evidenced by the significant activity in trade, particularly in the sectors of agriculture, minerals, and services, leading to a notable surge in transactions.

Experts have also highlighted a positive outlook on potential collaboration in the field of clean energy suggesting a diversification of trade beyond the traditional focus on iron ore and agricultural products. Notably, the remarkable increase in exports of lithium ores from Australia to China, reaching a record high of AUD11.7 billion (US$7.6 billion) in the first half of 2023, compared to AUD470 million (US$306.3 million) just two years earlier, is an example which underlines the growing importance of this commodity in the bilateral trade relationship.

Moreover, China and Australia have reached significant agreements lately, particularly in resolving tariff disputes related to traditional trade items like wine and barley .

These developments indicate renewed access to various sectors, suggesting their recovery and promising opportunities for businesses and investors on both sides.

China Briefing is written and produced by  Dezan Shira & Associates . The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done so since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Please contact the firm for assistance in China at  [email protected] .

Dezan Shira & Associates has offices in  Vietnam ,  Indonesia ,  Singapore ,  United States ,  Germany ,  Italy ,  India , and  Russia , in addition to our trade research facilities along the  Belt & Road Initiative .   We also have partner firms assisting foreign investors in  The Philippines ,  Malaysia ,  Thailand ,  Bangladesh .

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Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 6, 2023. Photo: Xinhua

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Groups optimistic PM’s first official visit to China will be fruitful

Saturday, 25 Mar 2023

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PETALING JAYA: Business groups are hopeful for more positive bilateral trade and technology transfer between Malaysia and China in the run-up to the first official visit by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to the Middle Kingdom.

They said the Prime Minister’s visit is the “most important diplomatic event” between both countries since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Besides inking more business projects at the government-to-government (G2G) and business-to-business (B2B) levels, they are hopeful for the visa requirement to be made easier for travellers to boost tourism and business visits.

Malaysia-China Business Council director Datuk Beh Hang Kong said the premier’s visit to China would help to set several matters straight.

“We have experienced several changes of prime ministers in recent years, and some did not get to make any visits due to the pandemic.

“So the coming official trip is important to clear up doubt that the Prime Minister is not giving enough focus on the Malaysia-China relationship.

“His visit will strengthen existing strong bilateral ties and build on them to welcome more cooperation,” he said in an interview.

Beh called on the government to expand the successful “Two Countries, Twin Parks” project to include multiple zones in the country to allow Chinese investors to shift their bases to Malaysia, especially when there is a sanction by the United States.

“The cooperation model is proven to work. China is in the midst of developing similar projects with Indonesia and the Philippines.

“It’s past time we upped the game and expanded it to become the ‘Two Countries, Twin Parks, Multiple Zones’ project to reap more economic benefits,” he added.

“Two Countries, Twin Parks” is a flagship national-level investment collaboration and a key project that is part of the Belt and Road Initiative.

The China-Malaysia Qinzhou Industrial Park in Guangxi opened in 2012, and the Malaysia-China Kuantan Industrial Park opened a year later in Malaysia.

Beh said the “Two Countries, Twin Halal Parks” project could be viewed as Malaysia’s outstanding and internationally acclaimed halal certification system that could benefit China’s massive halal market.

“We can cater to halal certification for China products, as well as other Islamic markets,” he said.

He also called for a less-hassle visa requirement, allowing Chinese visitors visa-on-arrival like what was practised before this.

“Right now, Malaysians can visit Hainan Island in China visa-free for a week. Perhaps we can offer Sabah a similar visa-free requirement to Chinese tourists,” he said.

Weighing in, the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia treasurer-general Datuk Koong Lin Loong said the existing visa requirement was what we lost out on compared with neighbouring countries that have also been attracting Chinese investors and visitors.

“We have what it takes to attract Chinese investors.

“But we also see that some of them have been investing in other countries.”

He said Anwar’s upcoming visit would bring a positive message to China that Malaysia is still a good choice for their businesses to expand in South-East Asia.

“This is our Prime Minister’s first visit to China, which coincidentally also has a new administration led by its president Xi Jinping,” said Koong.

“Both Malaysia and China take this visit seriously as China has been our largest trading partner in the last 14 years, with bilateral trade reaching a record high of US$203.6bil (RM901.5bil) last year.

“It is also the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the China-Malaysia comprehensive strategic partnership this year and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties next year,” added Koong.

As the nation transitions into endemicity, he said, Malaysia was putting more focus on hi-tech and digital technology development, including pharmaceuticals and modern farming, for which China has much to offer in terms of knowledge and technology.

“Malaysia’s economy is reliant on foreign investment. This visit will certainly see more collaborations to allow more technology transfer to Malaysia,” he added.

Koong expressed hope that more mega projects with Chinese investors’ involvement could take place, such as the revival of the High-Speed Rail project and infrastructure development in the peninsula and in Sabah and Sarawak.

“This will be a good spin-off for Malaysia’s economy in the next five years, especially with the Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 to restructure Malaysia into a knowledge-based economy where citizens can enjoy a decent standard of living,” he said.

Tags / Keywords: Anwar Ibrahim , China , visit

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Australian prime minister's visit to China to be locked in at 'appropriate time'

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China welcomes Australian PM to visit the country

BEIJING - China welcomes Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to visit the country and attend the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE), Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday.

Mao made the remarks at a daily press conference when responding to a question on report that Anthony Albanese said that he will visit China from Nov 4 to 7 and attend the 6th CIIE.

China welcomes Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to visit the country at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang and his attendance at the 6th CIIE, Mao said. "A sound and stable China-Australia relationship serves the fundamental interests of the two countries and the two peoples and is conducive to regional and world peace and stability."

China is ready to work with Australia to strengthen high-level exchanges, enhance exchanges and cooperation in various fields and promote the continuous improvement and development of bilateral relations, to bring more benefits to the two peoples, Mao added.

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Germany’s Leader Walks a Fine Line in China

Chancellor Olaf Scholz tried to promote German business interests while delivering warnings from Europe about trade and geopolitical tensions.

By Alexandra Stevenson and Melissa Eddy

Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany tried to strike a delicate balance on a trip to China this week, promoting business ties with his country’s biggest trading partner while raising concerns over its surge of exports to Europe and its support for Russia.

Mr. Scholz met with China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on Tuesday, the culmination of a three-day visit with a delegation of German officials and business leaders. He also met with Premier Li Qiang as the two countries navigate relations strained by Russia’s war in Ukraine and China’s rivalry with the United States, Germany’s most important ally.

Throughout his trip, Mr. Scholz promoted the interests of German companies that are finding it increasingly hard to compete in China. And he conveyed growing concern in the European Union that the region’s market is becoming a dumping ground for Chinese goods produced at a loss .

But Mr. Scholz chose a conciliatory tone over a combative one in his opening remarks before sitting down with Mr. Xi on Tuesday morning, in a meeting that stretched over three hours and turned into a walk and lunch.

It was the German leader’s first visit to China since his government adopted a strategy last year that defined the Asian power as a “partner, competitor and systemic rival ,” calling on Germany to reduce its dependency on Chinese goods.

Germany’s economy shrank last year, and its weaknesses have exposed a reliance on China for growth. Energy prices have risen because of the war in Ukraine, which has been facilitated by Beijing’s support for the Kremlin. German companies have pushed for more access to China and complained that they face unfair competition .

The chancellor visited German companies with extensive investments in China and met with trade representatives and officials in the sprawling industrial metropolis of Chongqing in China’s southwest and in Shanghai and Beijing.

At a talk with a group of students in Shanghai on Monday, Mr. Scholz fielded a question from a student who planned to study in Germany this year, who said he was “really worried” because the country had partially legalized cannabis. “When you study in Berlin, you can run around the whole time and never meet anyone who does that,” the chancellor assured him.

But he also used the platform to push more serious messages about trade. “Competition must be fair,” Mr. Scholz told the students. “We want a level playing field,” he said.

Mr. Scholz’s trip was an example of the difficult dance that Germany is trying to do: maintaining economic ties with China while managing U.S. pressure to align itself more closely with Washington against Beijing.

In his meetings, Mr. Scholz highlighted Germany’s commitment to doing business with China, but he also warned that Beijing had to curb the flood of Chinese goods into Europe. At the same time, he expressed reservations about the European Union’s investigations into China’s use of subsidies for green technology industries, saying that any discussion about trade must be based on fairness.

“This must be done from a position of self-confident competitiveness and not from protectionist motives,” Mr. Scholz told reporters on Monday.

China’s manufacturing push in green sectors like electric cars and solar panels has touched off trade disputes with Europe and the United States, where such industries have also received government support. But with 5,000 German companies active in the Chinese market, Germany stands to lose more than many of its European partners would if Beijing were to retaliate against the European Union.

“If the E.U. goes too hard against China, we could expect countermeasures and this would be a catastrophe for us,” said Maximilian Butek, the executive director of the German Chamber of Commerce in China.

“For us it’s extremely important that the Chinese market remains open,” he said.

In his meeting with Mr. Xi, Mr. Scholz indicated that Russia’s war on Ukraine and its arms buildup were high on his agenda. “They directly affect our core interests. Indirectly, they damage the entire international order,” he said in opening remarks at the meeting, a transcript of which was provided by Mr. Scholz’s office.

Despite pressing the issue with Mr. Xi, he did not appear to win the commitment that he had sought from the Chinese leader to take part in an international conference for Ukraine planned in June. Germany had hoped that China could use its influence over Russia to help work toward a peace agreement.

Germany would also like China stop selling goods to Russia that have potential uses on the battlefield, and Mr. Scholz told reporters that he had brought up the issue in his meeting. “The point has been made,” he said. “There can be no misunderstanding about how we see things.”

China is hoping to drive a wedge between Europe and the United States by courting leaders such as Mr. Scholz. State media reports depicted his visit as demonstrating the strength of China’s relations with Europe, playing up its economic ties with Germany.

In his opening remarks to Mr. Scholz, Mr. Xi said cooperation between China and Germany, which have the second- and third-largest economies, was beneficial to the world, a remark that could be read as directed at those who have urged Berlin to distance itself from Beijing.

“The two countries should view and develop bilateral relations from a long-term and strategic perspective and work together to inject more stability and certainty into the world,” Mr. Xi told Mr. Scholz, emphasizing the importance of seeking “common ground.”

Beijing is sure to welcome the message that German businesses are committed to China. The Asian giant is trying to court foreign investment to reinvigorate its economy, which has faltered because of a housing slowdown. Some Western businesses and investors have also been rattled by Mr. Xi’s emphasis on national security, which they regard as making it riskier to operate in the country.

From China’s perspective, Germany may be its best hope of delaying or watering down any trade restrictions from Europe, said Noah Barkin, a senior adviser in the China practice at the Rhodium Group, a research firm.

German carmakers have invested billions of dollars in China, and much of their revenue comes from there. Many worry that if the European Commission imposes higher tariffs on Chinese exports, and Beijing retaliates, German businesses will suffer most.

Chinese officials “know that German companies are heavily invested and they use that politically to influence political decision making in Berlin,” Mr. Barkin said.

Germany’s biggest companies, including BMW, Mercedes-Benz and BASF, have large operations in China and strong, effective lobbies in Berlin, Mr. Barkin added. Executives from those companies, along with several others, traveled with Mr. Scholz to China.

“The supply chain in China is stuffed with German goods,” said Joerg Wuttke, a former president of the E.U. Chamber of Commerce in China. “If China has a price war with Germany, then no one will make money anymore.”

Mr. Scholz also brought along the German ministers for agriculture, the environment and transportation, officials who experts said would be particularly interested in working with China.

“You set an agenda with these three ministers, the tonality is overall a cooperative one, these are areas that we want to work on,” said Janka Oertel, director of the Asia Program at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Chinese officials, for their part, have brushed off the European accusations of unfair trading practices, calling them groundless and an act of “ typical protectionism .” They have hinted that they could retaliate for any actions taken by the European Union, saying that China was “strongly dissatisfied with and firmly opposes” its investigations.

In an interview with the German newspaper Handelsblatt, Wu Ken, China’s ambassador to Germany, said the competitive edge of Chinese electric vehicles “relies on innovation, not subsidies.”

“The challenge faced by developed countries lies more in the fact that Chinese companies are more efficient,” the ambassador said.

Vivian Wang contributed reporting from Beijing and Zixu Wang from Hong Kong.

Alexandra Stevenson is the Shanghai bureau chief for The Times, reporting on China’s economy and society. More about Alexandra Stevenson

Melissa Eddy is based in Berlin and reports on Germany’s politics, businesses and its economy. More about Melissa Eddy

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Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing amid domestic, global turmoil: Significance of the visit

Rarely do political leaders in countries with ambitious army generals go on visits abroad during high political turmoil. sharif's visit seeks to make a political point, while the economic push of the cpec tangle remains. we explain..

Amid the political chaos at home with portents of big changes, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif left for Beijing Tuesday on a two-day official visit, the first foreign leader to visit China since President Xi Jinping won a third term in office.

This is Sharif’s first visit to Pakistan’s “iron brother” since becoming PM, at a time his government and the Pakistan Army have been busy trying to salvage ties with the United States. Pakistan’s relations with the US were hit by a barrage of anti-America propaganda by former PM Imran Khan , who blames the Joe Biden Administration for his ouster.

Delicate balancing act

The last foreign visit by a Pakistani head of government was by Imran Khan in February 2022, two months before he lost power. He went for the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics – days ahead of Russia’s war in Ukraine – where Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin reaffirmed their friendship as one “without limits”. Khan also visited Moscow soon after, his visit coinciding with Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

Since then, the world has changed, and Pakistan faces the challenge of balancing between its close ties with China – which the Biden Administration has named as its biggest challenge after Russia in its national security strategy – and its longstanding partnership with the US.

Writing in Dawn on Tuesday, Maleeha Lodhi, Pakistan’s former ambassador to the UN and the US, has cautioned against Pakistan becoming part of any “anti-China coalition”, pointing out that this imperative “limits the space for expanding ties when Washington’s overriding goal today is to counter China’s increasing global power while Islamabad sees its strategic future to lie with China.”

Financial needs and the CPEC tangle

At the bilateral level, from Khan to Sharif, the stated aims of the visit are the same: looking to China for economic help.

As a Belt and Road Initiative partner, Khan believed he would renegotiate the terms of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which he and his ministers denounced as not in line with Pakistani interests. He also wanted to swing a financial bailout from Beijing to ease Pakistan’s economic woes. On both counts, he was cold-shouldered. While China said it would provide economic assistance, it added that more negotiations were required.

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At the time, the South China Morning Post quoted Cheng Xiaohe, deputy director of the centre for international strategic studies at Renmin University, as saying, “China can’t replace the Pakistani government in taking care of its people.”

Sharif is on better ground, at least notionally. His government has secured the continuation of the IMF package that was stalled after the Khan government failed to fulfil conditions. Moreover, at the resumption, the package was increased from the earlier $6 billion to $6.5 billion. The IMF also released $ 1.1 billion to Pakistan in August, helping it avoid a debt repayment default.

The CPEC was negotiated by Shehbaz Sharif ’s brother Nawaz Sharif when he was prime minister from 2013-2016. China was less than happy with the Khan government’s half-hearted participation in, and periodic denouncements of, this crucial project in Xi’s BRI.

Earlier billed as a $ 42-billion project and revised later to a more ambitious $ 67-bn project, the CPEC has struggled to move beyond the $25-bn mark – China’s own economic troubles are one part of the problem, but the other has to do with Pakistan’s reluctance or inability to invest as Beijing wants it to. Many projects also ran into local difficulties.

On taking charge, the Sharif government ran a forensic audit of CPEC and he blamed his predecessor for “effectively ruining” the multi-billion dollar project. As reported by The Express Tribune of Pakistan, only three out of 15 projects in Gwadar, valued a little over $300 million, were completed, while 12 schemes of about $2 billion, concerning electricity and water supply and provision, remained unfinished. Sharif has resolved to galvanise work.

The recent killings of Chinese nationals in Karachi and elsewhere are the latest cloud on the project, with security fears high.

Writing in China’s  Global Times ahead of his visit, Sharif recalled how as Punjab Chief minister he had completed “many key energy and public transport projects in record time”. He listed coal power plants at Sahiwal, Quaid-e-Azam Solar Power Park and Pakistan’s first Lahore Orange Line mass transit project.

“As a game-changer for Pakistan and subsequently for the broader region, CPEC is the central pillar of my government’s development agenda…CPEC’s next phase of high quality development will encompass key areas such as industry, energy, agriculture, ICT, rail and road network and developing Gwadar Port as a hub of trade and transhipment, investment and regional connectivity,” Sharif wrote in his op-ed article. He added: “Safety and security of Chinese personnel and projects in Pakistan remains our top priority. The loss of precious Chinese lives in Pakistan is our loss… My government would spare no effort to bring to justice the perpetrators of these reprehensible acts.”

But Sharif will have a lot of convincing to do, as China appears to have scaled down its expectations and plans for the CPEC.

Sharif has also said that as China is Pakistan’s largest trade and investment partner, “we want to expand these ties” and under the terms of the existing Free Trade Agreement, has offered Pakistan “as the manufacturing base for China and an extension of its industrial and supply chain network”.

Significance of the visit

The problems with the CPEC have not impacted other aspects of the strategic partnership between the two countries. China continues to support Pakistan against India at the UN Security Council (as seen in the repeated blocks by Beijing on joint India-US proposals to designate two Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives).

Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa’s unusual “farewell” visit to Beijing in September before after a similar visit to the US – he is due to step down at the end of November – framed the enduring military ties between the two countries.

Sharif’s visit will find resonance in the ongoing political theatre of Pakistan, where Imran Khan repeatedly describes the present dispensation as “an imported government”, an allusion to his allegation that the US was behind his removal from office. Khan has repeatedly invoked India’s neutral stand in the Russia-Ukraine war to rail against Pakistan’s failure to adopt an “independent” foreign policy, even though Pakistan’s defiant embrace of China in these fraught times is a bit like India’s Russia policy.

Rarely do political leaders in countries with ambitious army generals go on visits abroad during high political turmoil. Sharif’s visit seeks to make a political point – which will not be lost in Beijing too – that he is confident enough to do so. But he will also be hoping that he does not return to a dramatically changed country.

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Follow our news, recent searches, prime minister lee hsien loong arrives in guangzhou at start of official visit to china, advertisement.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited an autonomous vehicle company WeRide and met Singaporeans in Guangdong in a reception on his first day.

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Madam Ho Ching arrive in Guangzhou on Mar 27, 2023, and are received by Guangdong Vice Governor Zhang Xin (left) and the People's Republic of China Ambassador to Singapore Sun Hai Yan (right). (Photo: Ministry of Communications and Information)

Koh Wan Ting

SINGAPORE: Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrived in Guangzhou on Monday (Mar 27) at the start of his first trip to China in more than three years . 

Landing in Guangzhou at 12.19pm, Mr Lee was greeted by Chinese officials, including Guangdong Vice Governor Zhang Xin and the People’s Republic of China's Ambassador to Singapore Sun Hai Yan. 

He was accompanied by Madam Ho Ching, Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan, Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong, Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, Senior Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and National Development Sim Ann, Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Law Rahayu Mahzam as well as other Singapore government officials.

Mr Lee's first stop was autonomous driving technology company WeRide, headquartered at the Biotech Island of Guangzhou. 

Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrived in Guangzhou on Monday (Mar 27) at the start of his first trip to China in more than three years. Mr Lee was greeted by Chinese officials, including Guangdong Vice Governor Zhang Xin and the People’s Republic of China's Ambassador to Singapore Sun Hai Yan. Olivia Siong reports. 

WeRide, which provides driverless vehicles such as Robotaxis and Robovans, currently counts Singapore public transport operator SMRT and venture capital firm K3 Ventures as investors. 

The tech company signed a memorandum of understanding with SMRT subsidiary Strides last November as part of its plan to trial autonomous vehicles in Singapore in the second half of this year. WeRide aims to gradually expand operations to the rest of Southeast Asia. 

During his nearly half-hour visit at WeRide's premises, Mr Lee and his retinue were briefed on the company's operations, technology and reach. 

He also rode on one of WeRide's Robobuses - part of a fleet that is currently plying the roads of Guangzhou as a form of public transport. 

In the evening, Mr Lee met Singaporeans in Guangdong in a reception at the InterContinental Guangzhou Exhibition Center.

Received with cheers from a crowd of around 150 Singaporeans, Mr Lee spoke briefly on emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic and about dealing with further global and local challenges. 

During his meetings with individual Singaporeans, Mr Lee also had a "good discussion" with them about their experiences living in China, the Prime Minister's press secretary told the media. 

During an interview with Chinese broadcaster China Central Television ahead of the trip, Mr Lee had described  relations between Singapore and China as "very good" . 

For his remaining five days, Mr Lee is slated to meet with more Chinese officials, including China's new premier Li Qiang , and speak at the Bo’ao Forum for Asia Annual Conference in Hainan. 

His visit, which ends on Apr 1, will include a meeting with China's President Xi Jinping in Beijing. 

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Spanish PM seeks international image with China visit

Madrid (AFP) – Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez begins Thursday a visit to China he hopes will show Spain has gained global influence under his watch ahead of a tight year-end general election.

Issued on: 29/03/2023 - 14:56 Modified: 29/03/2023 - 14:55

The two-day visit comes as Spain is gearing up to take over the European Union's rotating presidency in July which will also serve to project the country on the world stage.

Sanchez will attend the high-profile Boao Forum for Asia on the Chinese island of Hainan on Thursday before meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing.

He will be only the second leader of a European country to visit China since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic three years ago, after German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's visit in 2022.

Sanchez said last week that Xi's invitation proves "the international recognition given to Spain during a time of such complex geopolitical difficulties."

Sanchez's talks will focus on the Ukraine conflict, with Xi trying present himself as a mediator.

The world should listen to China's "voice" in order to find a way out of the war in Ukraine, Sanchez said on Friday ahead of his visit to Beijing.

'Facilitator'

Spain is not "in the first division of global actors" and is not "decisive regarding strategic issues relating to China or Russia," said Jose Ignacio Torreblanca, a senior fellow with the European Council for Foreign Relations.

But the country has "easy" ties with Beijing and it "could act as a facilitator," he told AFP.

Sanchez, a socialist, has made international affairs a priority since he came to power in June 2018, in contrast to his conservative predecessor.

Spain lost influence in the EU, especially during the country's deep economic downturn sparked by the 2008 global financial crisis, said Raquel Garcia, an analyst with Madrid's Elcano Royal Institute, a think tank.

But in recent years Madrid has had "a much more pro-active attitude when it comes to defending its positions, presenting its ideas" in Brussels, she added.

Sanchez managed in 2019 to get his then foreign minister, Josep Borrell, named as the EU's foreign policy chief.

The Spanish premier has also taken advantage of "the loss in leadership of the Franco-German axis" to present Spain as a country that can "make the difference when it is time to form alliances," said Garcia.

Sanchez has been a staunch ally of Ukraine and has visited the country twice since Russia's invasion.

'Reinforce his leadership'

Despite being on the other end of Europe, Spain has welcomed 165,000 Ukrainian refugees, according to Eurostat.

Within the EU, only Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic have received more.

"Spain is not part of the G7 and is only invited as a guest to G20 meetings. It is in Europe where it can best exercise a certain form of leadership," said Garcia.

Having a clear position on Ukraine is "a way to reinforce his leadership" on "the issue which is central in the EU", she added.

Spain's upcoming presidency of the EU will also be the focus of Sanchez's talks with Xi.

"China wants to obtain precise things from the European Union and wants to get closer to Pedro Sanchez" for this reason, said Torreblanca.

Sanchez's taste for diplomacy could also be an asset in the run-up to a general election expected in December, even if the campaign will not focus on international relations.

"The temptation exists to take advantage of foreign policy for electoral purposes for a very simple reason: it's a subject where the opposition does not act," said Torreblanca.

Most polls put the main opposition conservative Popular Party (PP) several percentage points ahead of Sanchez's Socialists.

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Vietnamese PM visit to China

Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited China(25-28), which was his first visit to the country after he assumed charge as the Prime Minister of Vietnam. Prime Minister Chinh has been making new efforts for the resurgence of Vietnamese economy given the fact that China is one of the topmost trade partners of Vietnam ,and Vietnam is looking for investment in developing its digital economy. His visit follows the earlier visit by Vietnamese communist leader and party general secretary Nguyen Phu Truong Who visited China in October last year, immediately after the Chinese president Xi  Jinping received his 3rd term. During the visit of the party general secretary the stress was on maintaining close communication and maintaining the party ties between the two communist parties. Vietnam’s party general secretary  has been buttressing zero tolerance towards corruption, and has been forcefully asking for economic reforms which has led to Vietnam emerging as the fastest growing economy in the region.

China also accords important status to Vietnam given the fact that it has become a middle power and has been managing its relationship with all the major powers in a very balanced way. The visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister  over the last 2 years to different regions of the world and also forging of better economic ties signifies the role that  Vietnam’s economy is going to play in the upliftment of the citizens and explore better avenues for growth. Interestingly, Vietnamese PM  visited China when US aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan docked at the Danang on June 25 th .  Around the same time, Philippine foreign minister also visited India to discuss issues related to bilateral cooperation. These events might be just a coincidence but it clearly signifies the role that major powers are going to play in the larger South East Asia.

During the visit important issues were discussed between the two sides and it was acknowledged that the two leaders  namely Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Chinh should visit each other like relatives and the two countries should work together for more stable region and  look for better development avenues. On June 27th the meeting of President Xi  and Prime Minister Chinh was held which  discussed issues related to trade, increased investment in select sectors, and highlighting the mutual historical ties between the two parties. During the meeting there has been equal stress on expanding trade and also new projects under Belt And Road Initiative infrastructure projects. During the meeting between Chinese premier Li  and Prime Minister Chinh it was acknowledged that the differences in South China Sea should be managed and the two sides should strengthen high level cooperation and communication between the militaries as well. Vietnam has been managing its relationship with major powers in a very flexible and diversified way so that it should not be seen as tilting towards one power.

 China visit by PM Chinh is buttress increased border trade, interaction between communities, and accelerating the infrastructure projects undertaken by the two sides. In terms of economic ties, Vietnam is a major trading partner of China in the region and the two way trade in 2022 was more than us $175.6 billion. In terms of foreign direct investment China has invested more than U.S. dollar 23.85 billion spanning across 3651 projects in Vietnam. This trip has helped in deepening the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership signed between the two countries. A number of meetings that Vietnamese Prime Minister had with Chinese premier, Chinese president and party general secretary, Chairman of Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress and many others, one primary underlining theme was that Vietnam is committed to independent foreign policy, self reliance, and undertaking diversified relationship so that Vietnam can progress much faster towards industrialisation, modernisation, and becoming one of the priority countries for foreign direct investment from across the world. During the meetings it was also expressed that maintaining peace and tranquility in the East Sea/ South China Sea should be a priority and Vietnamese PM buttress the fact that settlement of dispute should be done through peaceful measures in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the law of the  Seas(UNCLOS).

Prime Minister Chinh also attended the 14th World Economic Forum in the Chinese city of Tianjin in which areas of mutual interest and promoting economic linkages between the member countries was discussed. During the meeting , Vietnamese Prime Minister while speaking to the other leaders  stated that Vietnam has adapted to new technologies, advanced  manufacturing processes and has an advantage in terms of high quality human resources, new finance architecture, and has been shifting towards modern governance structures which will help Vietnam in sustainable development. He highlighted the fact that Vietnam has been striving for green transformation, digital economy, reduction in use of fossil fuels, synergising its efforts with other like minded countries in science and technology development, and also creating a circular economy. Vietnam PM  attended the meeting along with leaders from China, New Zealand, Mongolia, and Barbados. He also stressed on promoting multilateralism, building international solidarity and connecting communities for development. One of his focus areas during his speech was reducing inflationary trends in energy and food prices, reducing tensions at global level, and building conducing environment for development of small and medium enterprises which have been providing employment across the developing world.

During this visit few important achievements have been highlighted which included China’s willingness to open the country’s market for Vietnamese goods with particular focus on agricultural and marine products as well as fruits. improved connectivity and infrastructure projects, assistance in manufacturing and automation within Vietnamese industrial hubs, and encouraging Chinese investment in large  and high tech firms. The discussion also talked about issues related to climate change efforts, macroeconomic management, better crop yield, enhancing breeding of fishery resources, sharing of best practices in financial and monetary policies, and  promoting people to people contacts.

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9th May, 2024

Prime Minister returns after successful China visit

20 Aug 2023 | BY Lahiru Doloswala

Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena returned to Colombo today (20)after a four-day visit to China.

During his visit, Gunawardena met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the seventh China-South Asia Expo. The two leaders discussed ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation, including debt relief for Sri Lanka.

Gunawardena said that Sri Lanka is grateful for China's support during its recent economic crisis. He also thanked China for its emergency humanitarian assistance and for extending financial assurances to help Sri Lanka obtain the IMF Extended Fund Facility (EFF) Arrangement.

Wang Yi assured Gunawardena that China will continue to support Sri Lanka's economic development and poverty alleviation. He also said that China will help Sri Lanka to effectively address the challenges of debt management.

In addition to their bilateral discussions, Gunawardena also delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the China-South Asia Expo. In his speech, he highlighted the opportunities available for investment in Sri Lanka, including in the Colombo Port City and in the Hambanthota Industrial Zone. He also encouraged tourists from Yunnan to visit Sri Lanka.

Gunawardena's visit to China comes at a time when Sri Lanka is facing a severe economic crisis. Sri Lanka is struggling to repay its foreign debt and has been forced to default on some payments. China is one of Sri Lanka's largest creditors, and the two countries have been working to negotiate a debt restructuring agreement.

The China-South Asia Expo is an annual event that brings together businesses and government officials from China and South Asia. The expo is designed to promote trade and investment between the two regions.

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Xi Jinping arrives in France with Ukraine and EU trade row at top of agenda

On his first visit to Europe since 2019, Xi is set to meet with Emmanuel Macron before heading to Serbia and Hungary

Xi Jinping has lauded China’s ties with France as a model for the international community as he arrived in Paris amid threats of a trade war over Chinese electric cars and French cognac.

On his first visit to the EU in five years, China’s president will meet his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen , who will urge him to reduce trade imbalances and use his influence with Russia over the war in Ukraine.

Ahead of the visit, Macron told the French newspaper La Tribune that an update of relations was necessary “because China now has excess capacity in many areas and exports massively to Europe”.

In September 2023 the EU launched an investigation into whether to impose punitive tariffs to protect EU producers against cheaper Chinese electric vehicle (EV) imports that it says are benefiting from state subsidies.

On Sunday night, Von der Leyen signalled the EU’s continued discontent with China , which she said was “currently manufacturing with massive subsidies”. An oversupply of cars and steel due to weak demand at home was leading to unfair trade and unacceptable market distorting practices, said Von der Leyen, that “could lead to deindustrialiasion in Europe” and loss of jobs, particularly in the German car industry.

Macron will try to talk Xi out of retaliating over the EV investigation, potentially with import duties on French cognac and agricultural goods.

The EU is also expected to raise suspicions that sanctions on exports to Russia are being circumvented by Chinese companies trading with its neighbour. They believe multinationals based in Asia are selling legitimately into Hong Kong and mainland China but the destination of the goods is Russia.

Xi, who was welcomed in Paris by the French prime minister, Gabriel Attal, said in a statement released on his arrival that ties between China and France were “a model for the international community of peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation between countries with different social systems”.

In a separate op-ed published in the French daily Le Figaro, the Chinese president said he was coming to France with three messages: that Beijing was committed to opening up “new vistas” in its relationship with France, opening up “ever wider” to the world, and to upholding world peace and stability.

“While opening up itself, China also encourages Chinese companies to go global,” Xi wrote. “France is advancing reindustrialisation based on green innovation, whereas China is accelerating the development of new quality productive forces.”

On the war in Ukraine , he wrote that China “understands the repercussions of the Ukraine crisis on the people of Europe”. He emphasised that Beijing was not “a party to or a participant in it”, adding that “China has been playing a constructive role in striving for peaceful settlement of the crisis”.

Xi’s six-day visit to Europe is the first since 2019 and will also see him visit Serbia and Hungary . The latter is hoping to become the European hub of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturing after BYD in 2023 sealed a deal for its first EV factory in Europe.

One of Macron’s key priorities will be to warn Xi of the danger of backing Russia in its invasion of Ukraine , with western officials concerned Moscow is already using Chinese machine tools in arms production.

The west wants China above all not to supply weapons to Russia and risk tipping the balance in the conflict.

“It is in our interest to get China to weigh in on the stability of the international order,” said Macron in an interview with the Economist published on Thursday.

“We must, therefore, work with China to build peace.”

China opened an anti-dumping investigation into brandy imported from the European Union in January, sparking fears cognac could suffer a similar blow to that taken by Australian wine when China introduced tariffs of more than 200%.

“We want to obtain reciprocity of exchanges and have the elements of our economic security taken into account,” Macron told La Tribune.

Von der Leyen said on Monday: “We have to act to make sure that competition is fair and not distorted. I have made clear that the current imbalances in market access are not sustainable and need to be addressed”.

The European Commission, the European Union’s authority on trade issues, has opened more than 20 competition probes targeting China in recent months including into the supply of cars, wind turbines and medical devices.

Beijing has reacted furiously to the most recent investigation, into suspected inequitable access to China’s medical devices market, calling it a sign of EU “protectionism”.

The EU’s 27 members – in particular France and Germany – are divided on their attitude towards China.

The German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, will not join Macron and Xi in Paris due to prior commitments, according to sources.

“In Europe, we are not unanimous on the subject because certain players still see China as essentially a market of opportunities,” Macron said, without naming any countries.

France will also seek to make progress on opening the Chinese market to its agricultural exports and resolve issues around the French cosmetic industry’s concerns about intellectual property rights, officials have said.

China may announce an order for about 50 Airbus aircraft during Xi’s visit, but it remains uncertain whether it will be a new deal, people familiar with the negotiations have said.

On Tuesday, Macron will take Xi to the Pyrenees, a mountainous region dear to the French president as the birthplace of his maternal grandmother, before Xi heads to Serbia and Hungary .

Reuters and Agence France-Presse contributed to this report

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ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said that Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s visit to China will cement the Pakistan-China friendship further.

He arrived Beijing on Monday, Gwadar Pro reported. This visit is in connection with the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF) to be held in Beijing from Oct. 17 to 18.

Talking to media persons here, Jalil Abbas Jilani mentioned that the PM’s participation in the forum will involve addressing a high-level gathering with the theme of “Connectivity in an Open Global Economy.”

This visit is significant as it offers an opportunity to assess the extensive spectrum of cooperation between Pakistan and China, particularly within the framework of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and Belt and Road Initiative, which is now celebrating its ten-year anniversary, he added.

The Foreign Minister elaborated that during this visit, the Prime Minister is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings with Chinese leaders along with other prominent figures attending the third Belt and Road Forum.

He informed that the Prime Minister will engage Chinese business leaders, including heads of major corporations, to explore potential areas of cooperation and potential joint ventures in Pakistan.

FM Jilani also highlighted the expected signing of numerous agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) during this visit.

These MoUs are likely to span various sectors, such as agriculture, health, industry, green energy, and space technology, he remarked.

The Foreign Minister stressed that this visit aims to strengthen the already robust bilateral relations between Pakistan and China.

“It provides an excellent opportunity to comprehensively review the entirety of their cooperation, including China-Pakistan Economic Corridor,” he explained.

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China’s president arrives in Europe to reinvigorate ties at a time of global tensions

PARIS — Chinese President Xi Jinping kicked off a three-country  trip to Europe  on Sunday with the continent divided over how to deal with Beijing’s growing power and the U.S.-China rivalry.

European carmakers are losing ground to  subsidized Chinese electric vehicles . Diplomats fret about  alleged Chinese spies  in European capitals. And China’s continued defense trade with Russia worries anyone in Europe who supports  war-ravaged Ukraine  and fears that the Russian army won’t stop there.

But Europe and China have hefty economic ties — EU-China trade is estimated at 2.3 billion euros per day — and Xi appears determined to rebuild and deepen relations with European leaders after a prolonged absence prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Xi started Sunday in France, whose president wants Europe to have more  economic and strategic independence  from other world powers. Then the Chinese president heads to Serbia and Hungary, both seen as China-friendly and close to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and recipients of substantial Chinese investment.

Xi’s trip will be closely watched in Washington for signs of diminishing European support for its key foreign policy goals. At the same time, there’s increasing uncertainty in Europe about future U.S. support for trans-Atlantic allies.

Xi was greeted at Paris’ Orly Airport by French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal — and by protests by groups demanding that France pressure China to respect Tibetan and Uyghur minority rights. Activists seeking a free Tibet attempted to unfurl a banner Saturday beneath the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, and protested in the French capital around the same time as Xi’s plane landed.

After arriving, Xi said he hoped the visit would bring "strategic convergence" between China and France, and that further developing their relations would contribute to ‘’stability and positive energy in an turbulent world,’’ according to a text provided to reporters at the airport.

On Monday French President Emmanuel Macron will treat the Chinese leader to formal honors of a full state visit. They will also meet with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is expected to join Macron in pushing for fairer trade policies and for China to use its leverage with Russia to push it toward ending the war in Ukraine.

The EU launched an investigation last fall into Chinese subsidies and could impose tariffs on electric vehicles exported from China.

China claims neutrality in the Ukraine conflict but has refused to call the full-blown Russian assault on its neighbor an invasion, and has been accused of bolstering Russia’s capacity to produce weapons.

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China’s Xi arrives in Hungary for talks on expanding Chinese investments

Chinese national flags are placed next to Hungarian flags on the Elisabeth Bridge in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

A Chinese national flag with the Buda Castle in the background waves in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

Tourists walk next to Chinese national flag placed on the Elisabeth Bridge in Budapest, Hungary, Wednesday, May 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos)

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BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping arrived in Hungary late Wednesday, the final stop on his five-day European tour, where he’s expected to finalize a number of agreements with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that will deepen China’s economic footprint in the region.

Xi is set to spend two nights in the Hungarian capital Budapest where he will meet with Orbán and Hungarian President Tamás Sulyok. Talks will center on future Chinese investments in the Central European country, which has courted deep economic ties with Beijing even as mainstream European leaders have pursued more protectionist policies to limit its reach on the continent.

Orbán, a nationalist populist whose illiberal policies have pushed him to the fringes of the European Union, made his country the first in the 27-member bloc to participate in Xi’s signature Belt and Road Initiative . Hungary has straddled a middle ground between its membership in the EU and NATO and a willingness to establish diplomatic and trade relationships with autocratic governments outside those groupings.

Hungary’s foreign minister, Péter Szijjártó, told a news conference on Monday that Xi and Hungarian officials would sign at least 16 bilateral agreements during the visit, Xi’s first to the country as president.

Szijjártó called the visit “historic,” and pointed out that China had provided more foreign investment to Hungary than any other country in 2023. He added that some of the agreements to be signed would involve expansion of Belt and Road in Hungary, and could include investments in infrastructure and energy.

Xi’s arrival in Budapest came after a two-day visit to Serbia’s capital Belgrade, where he signed an agreement on building a “shared future” with the Balkan country which, like Hungary, is considered friendly to Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

China has claimed neutrality in the Ukraine conflict, but has refused to call the Russian assault an invasion and has been accused of bolstering Russia’s military capacity. Hungary has condemned the Russian invasion but threatened to block EU sanctions against Moscow and refused to provide Kyiv with military support.

Xi and Orbán are likely to discuss the war in Ukraine, Hungary’s neighbor to the east. Hungary’s government has vocally urged China to take a leading role in brokering peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, and expressed its support for a China-proposed peace plan .

Before Xi’s arrival on Wednesday, a number of demonstrators gathered in central Budapest to protest his visit and call for autonomy for Tibet, which lies under Chinese control.

Tibor Hendrey, a representative for the Tibet Aid Society, said that doing business with China is important for Hungary’s economy, but highlighted the dangers of a relationship with a country with a spotty democratic and human rights records.

“We need a good relationship with a great empire, that’s not a problem. The problem is that China has a completely different culture, a completely different approach to human rights,” Hendrey said. “I feel that they want to export this kind of thinking here to Hungary, and that the Hungarian government is willing to accept that.”

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What's the best state for you », china's foreign ministry congratulates putin on his inauguration as president of russia.

China's Foreign Ministry Congratulates Putin on His Inauguration as President of Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping during a meeting at the Belt and Road Forum in Beijing, China, October 18, 2023. Sputnik/Sergei Guneev/Pool via REUTERS/ File Photo

BEIJING (Reuters) - China's foreign ministry congratulated Vladimir Putin on his inauguration as president of Russia, according to a spokesperson on Wednesday.

"China congratulates President Putin on his inauguration," said Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian, noting President Xi Jinping had already sent a congratulatory message to Putin on his re-election.

Lin said Sino-Russian relations have remained healthy under the strategic guidance of the two leaders.

"China attaches great importance to the strategic leading role of the head of state diplomacy in bilateral relations between the two countries. The two heads of state agreed to continue to maintain close exchanges to ensure the smooth and stable development of Sino-Russian relations," he said.

The United States and most European Union nations boycotted a Kremlin ceremony to swear in Putin for a new six-year term as president on Tuesday, citing Russia's war in Ukraine.

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