Chinese premier flies to Australia after New Zealand visit
Chinese Premier Li Qiang is due to arrive in Australia soon on a relations-mending mission
By Rod Mcguirk And Charlotte Graham-Mclay
Published - Jun 14, 2024, 11:51 PM ET
Last Updated - Jun 14, 2024, 11:51 PM EDT
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Chinese Premier Li Qiang is due to arrive in Australia on Saturday on a relations-mending mission with panda diplomacy, rock lobsters and China’s global dominance in the critical minerals sector high on the agenda.
China’s most powerful politician after President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Adelaide Zoo and a Chinese-controlled lithium processing plant in the Kwinana Beach industrial estate, as well as Australia’s Parliament House, during a visit that will end on Tuesday.
Li’s visit is the first by a Chinese premier in seven years and is expected to pave the way for Xi’s first journey to Australia since 2014.
