Common ground prevails over differences: China Daily editorial

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's ongoing visit to China is not only of significance for the bilateral and trade relations between the two countries, it also sends a message amid the changing global trade landscape.

Albanese's visit, which began on Saturday and will last until Friday, is notably long for a state leader, highlighting Australia's commitment to deepening ties and fostering stability amid the uncertain global landscape.

Against the backdrop of rising tensions between the United States and many countries because of the US administration's recent threat to levy higher tariffs on them from Aug 1, Albanese's visit shows that the Australian side has a clearer judgment and understanding of China than it had under the previous Scott Morrison government. His itinerary includes Chengdu as well as the customary stops in Shanghai and Beijing.

That Albanese and the sizable business delegation accompanying him are meeting with representatives from the tourism and sports sectors in Shanghai and Chengdu points to the importance Australia attaches to expanding its economic cooperation with China.

Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province, gets 15 percent of the wine and beef China imports from Australia; its new energy enterprises are talking with their Australian counterparts about cooperation in the photovoltaic sector; and Chengdu's production of electric vehicle parts needs lithium supplies from Australia. Albanese's stay in Chengdu shows that while consolidating traditional areas of cooperation such as agriculture and minerals, Australia is also keen on expanding ties in sports and tourism and exploring new areas of cooperation.

Chinese tourists are among the highest spending groups going to Australia. Australian official data show that as of March, about 860,000 tourists from the Chinese mainland visited Australia over the preceding 12 months, with their total consumption A$9.2 billion ($6.04 billion), up 28 percent on the same period the year before.

Albanese's visit provides Australia with a good opportunity to engage in high-level discussions about strengthening cooperation including the possibility of restarting talks on upgrading the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement that were shelved by the Morrison government. Now, with the positive upturn in China-Australia relations, it is regarded as possible and desirable to restart the negotiations.

China accounts for one-third of Australia's total trade and Albanese's visit is conducive to further consolidating mutual trust for the steady progress of bilateral economic and trade relations.

It goes without saying that China and Australia have differences in terms of geopolitics and their bilateral relations have experienced ups and downs in recent years. However, Albanese's visit, his second since becoming prime minister, is intended as a "friendly gesture" to ensure the positive development of bilateral relations on a stable track, according to his office.

China, on its part, stands ready to work with Australia to take this visit as an opportunity to strengthen communication, enhance mutual trust, expand practical cooperation and push forward the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership, as the Chinese Foreign Ministry indicated.

As the two countries enter the second decade of their comprehensive strategic partnership, Albanese's visit demonstrates that countries with different political systems can find common ground and develop long-term cooperative bilateral relations.

The current momentum in the development of bilateral relations between China and Australia shows that if differences are well managed the steady development of ties can be guaranteed, even at a time when the political landscape of the world is becoming increasingly uncertain and volatile.

The progress made in their economic and trade cooperation in the past two years has benefited the people of both countries, and provided a counterweight amid the rampancy of unilateralism and protectionism.

Strengthening China-Australia relations is of pragmatic importance for the two economies, as it will contribute to the well-being of various industries and help keep the stability of global industry and supply chains in many strategic sectors, which also serves the common interest of the world.