Chinese premier lands in Australia on first such visit in 7 years

By ROD McGUIRK and CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY
Associated Press

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang has arrived in Australia on a relations-mending mission. Panda diplomacy, rock lobsters and China’s global dominance in the critical minerals sector are high on the agenda. China’s second-most powerful politician is expected to visit Adelaide Zoo, a Chinese-controlled lithium processing plant, and Australia’s Parliament House. Li’s visit is the first by a Chinese premier in seven years. Relations between the two countries collapsed during Australia’s previous conservative administration’s almost decade in power. China initiated a reset of the bilateral relationship after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s center-left Labor Party was elected in 2022. Li flew from New Zealand to Australia on Saturday, and will also visit Malaysia.