BEIJING, China: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese started a weeklong visit to China over the weekend. The visit aims to revitalize economic relations and expand cooperation between the two nations.

The trip marks a significant moment in the ongoing thaw in relations following years of diplomatic strain.

Albanese's first official engagement was a meeting in Shanghai on July 13 with Chen Jining, the city's Communist Party Secretary. The meeting is the first in a series of high-level discussions, including planned talks with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang, and Zhao Leji, Chairman of the National People's Congress.

"This is a very large business delegation, which underscores the significance of our economic relationship," Albanese said in an interview with Chinese state broadcaster CGTN shortly after landing in Shanghai.

During the visit, Albanese is expected to meet business, tourism, and sports leaders in Shanghai and Chengdu. On Tuesday, he will attend a CEO roundtable in Beijing, part of an effort to expand commercial dialogue and investment opportunities.

One notable development so far has been the signing of an agreement between Chinese travel giant Trip.com and Tourism Australia, aimed at boosting Chinese tourism to Australia. The deal reflects a mutual interest in reviving travel and people-to-people exchanges that were disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This is Albanese's second trip to China since his center-left Labor Party returned to power in 2022. The government was reelected with a stronger mandate in May, reinforcing its approach of steady engagement and pragmatic diplomacy with Beijing.

Under Albanese's leadership, Australia has made significant progress in mending ties that had deteriorated during the tenure of the previous conservative administration. At the height of the tensions, Beijing had cut off ministerial communication and imposed a wide array of trade restrictions—both formal and informal—that severely affected Australian exporters, with estimated annual losses of more than 20 billion Australian dollars (US$13 billion).

The diplomatic freeze was triggered by a range of contentious issues, most notably Australia's call for an independent international inquiry into the origins of COVID-19. Since taking office, however, Albanese has sought to rebuild trust while also reducing Australia's overreliance on its largest trading partner.

"My government very much values our relationship with China," Albanese said during his meeting with Chen. "We engage calmly and consistently. It's in our national interest to have strong relations with China, and we will continue to pursue those interests constructively."

Chinese state media echoed the positive tone. An editorial by Xinhua News Agency on Saturday described bilateral ties as "steadily improving" and gaining "fresh momentum."

The visit is widely seen as an essential step in reinforcing economic ties while maintaining a careful balance between strategic independence and commercial cooperation. As Australia navigates a complex regional environment, Albanese's approach underscores a return to dialogue and diplomacy to manage one of the country's most critical relationships.

"There are no fundamental conflicts of interest between China and Australia," the editorial stated. "By managing differences through mutual respect and focusing on shared interests, the two sides can achieve common prosperity and benefit."