Australian Prime Minister Albanese confirmed on the 8th that he will visit China this coming weekend, with his first stop being Chengdu, capital of Sichuan Province. This visit comes as Beijing is seeking to strengthen cooperation in the fields of artificial intelligence, green energy, and the digital economy.
Foreign media quoted Albanese telling reporters in Hobart, the capital of Tasmania, Australia: "I look forward to visiting Shanghai, Beijing, and Chengdu. On Saturday, I will visit Chengdu." However, he did not disclose further details about his itinerary in China.
This will be Albanese’s second visit to China since being re-elected as Australian Prime Minister in May of this year.
Albanese first visited Beijing as Prime Minister in 2023, breaking the seven-year diplomatic impasse between the two countries. He emphasized that although differences exist between the two trading partners, it is still necessary for both sides to maintain communication.
Albanese’s visit comes as China, Australia's largest trading partner, is suggesting a reassessment of the free trade agreement signed between the two countries ten years ago, in order to strengthen cooperation in agriculture and mining, and to explore growth areas in new technologies.
When asked whether Australia would consider expanding the free trade agreement with China to the field of artificial intelligence, Albanese only stated: "We (Australia) will determine our policy."