China's premier to visit Australia for the first time in seven years welcomed

Shadow Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham says he welcomes Chinese Premier Li Qiang's visit to Australia. Mr Li is set to visit Australia on the weekend making it the first visit to Australia by a Chinese premier since 2017. “It is a welcomed visit by Premier Li, and it’s far better as I have said on many occasions for China to engage in dialogue than to pursue standoff,” Mr Birmingham said. Mr Birmingham claimed for the visit to be successful the Albanese government needs to be open and upfront with China. “This visit needs to be one where the Albanese government is open enough and upfront about the global concerns we have in terms of China not using its role to put pressure on Russia and Iran and those who are responsible for such destruction in the globe,” he said.