Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visits the Great Wall of China amid trade talks

With some of the most significant talks of his political life done, Anthony Albanese has turned his attention to sightseeing. The prime minister has toured the Great Wall of China but still could not escape uncomfortable questions about Australia's relationship with Beijing.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
China's extraordinary Great Wall two and a half millennia in
the making. Though Anthony Albanesi's pilgrimage is all about recent history,
I have.

Speaker 2 (00:14):
The sense of history following the footsteps of the Labor
Prime Minister GoF Whitlam.

Speaker 1 (00:20):
Then Opposition leader. Whitlam walked here too, fifty four years
ago in a trip that helped open up diplomatic relations
with China.

Speaker 2 (00:28):
He expanded Australia's horizons and that was really important for
US as a nation.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
Diplomatic relations established then recovering now after a slump during
the pandemic. China turned on a colorful welcome for the
Prime Minister in Beijing's Great Hall of the People as
he held leader's talks, one meeting turning contentious China's account,

(00:56):
the Prime Minister reaffirmed to President she Australia his commitment
to the One China policy and its opposition to Taiwan independence.
Not how Anthony Alberesi saw it.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
We support the status quo by definition, we don't support
any unilateral action on Taiwan.

Speaker 1 (01:16):
By walking in the footsteps of GoF, Anthony Albernzi plays
to the idea that he too is building the China relationship,
and four days into this visit, he says he's achieved plenty.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
Just twenty one thousand kilometers to go to him, it's
important that we build stability and security in our world,
and part of that has to be positive engagement.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
In an inspiring place with his fiance. China not the
only relationship on his mind.

Speaker 2 (01:46):
Anyone has the.

Speaker 1 (01:53):
Great Wall behind him. Anthony Albernesi now flies to Southwest China.
There he plans events around medical technology, tennis and also
the one thing that makes the city of Chungdu famous,
pandas the Prime Minister, is expected back in Australia before
the weekend.