Several world leaders at the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro seized the opportunity to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who returned to the global stage after skipping last year’s gathering in India.
Before attending the group’s scheduled meetings at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro, Xi held bilateral talks with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
Xi met Albanese months after the Australian leader visited Beijing in an attempt to resolve a prolonged dispute that saw billions of dollars worth of Australian exports blocked by China, its largest trading partner.
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Albanese noted progress in repairing ties. “Trade is flowing more freely to the benefit of both countries and to people and businesses on both sides,” he said, according to a transcript of his remarks.
He added that the two nations would explore opportunities for cooperation on energy transition and climate change.
With Rio’s Sugar Loaf mountain in the background, China’s Xi Jinping (centre) mingles with other leaders and diplomats at the G20 summit on Monday. Photo: AP alt=With Rio’s Sugar Loaf mountain in the background, China’s Xi Jinping (centre) mingles with other leaders and diplomats at the G20 summit on Monday. Photo: AP>
Xi echoed the sentiment, telling Albanese that the relationship had turned a corner. According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, he also urged Australia to maintain a non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies.
The renewed focus on trade ties comes as US president-elect Donald Trump pledges to impose tariffs of 60 per cent on Chinese imports and up to 20 per cent on those from other nations after he takes office on January 20.
Asked about Beijing-Washington relations, Albanese said on Sunday that he would not involve Australia in bilateral disputes. This comes as the US, Australia and Britain progress with Aukus, a trilateral security partnership to accelerate hypersonic vehicle testing and other technologies.
State-owned China Daily last week lauded Australia as a model for US allies in the Trump era, praising its departure from Washington’s “anti-China spell.”
Earlier on Monday, Xi had his first in-person meeting with Starmer. The British prime minister addressed “areas where we have different perspectives, including Hong Kong, human rights and Russia’s war in Ukraine”, according to a readout released by Downing Street.
Starmer also raised concerns about Taiwan and sovereignty-related disputes.
Beijing’s readout did not mention these issues. Instead, China’s Foreign Ministry highlighted Xi’s remarks that the world was entering “a new period of turbulence and transformation”. Xi emphasised the importance of “mutual respect [and] open cooperation” between China and Britain to address global challenges.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (left) and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attend the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. Photo: Reuters alt=German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (left) and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese attend the G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro on Monday. Photo: Reuters>
The two sides also agreed that British Foreign Minister Rachel Reeves would visit Beijing for discussions with her counterpart He Lifeng, though no date was specified.
Xi’s schedule will continue over Monday and Tuesday with official summit events. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he would meet with Xi to discuss concerns about dual-use Chinese exports that Berlin said were aiding Russia’s war efforts in Ukraine.
Scholz also planned to address reports of North Korean soldiers fighting in Ukraine at Russia’s request, calling such involvement “unacceptable” and “a terrible change” in the conflict’s dynamics.
The meeting comes after Xi wrote an opinion article in Brazil’s Folha de S.Paulo, underscoring Beijing and Brasilia’s “identical or convergent views on many international and regional issues”, including a political settlement to the Ukraine war.
Xi referenced a “six-point common understanding” on Ukraine, saying it had garnered “a positive response from the international community,” despite rejection by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and accusations of coordination with Moscow.
Responding indirectly to Xi’s article, Scholz told Folha that “peace in Ukraine must be based on international law” and rejected “any settlement dictated by Russia”.
Additionally, Xi is expected to meet Argentine President Javier Milei, a self-described “ultra-libertarian” who once branded China an “assassin” state and vowed to sever ties with Beijing. However, Milei has since softened his stance, calling the Chinese “very interesting partners.”
