Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Premier Li Qiang is visiting officials in New Zealand and Australia as part of a diplomatic charm offensive.
On June 13, Mr. Li touched down in Wellington where he met with Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, before going to Auckland, and then jetting off to Australia on June 15.
He will land in Adelaide, before travelling to the nation's capital Canberra to meet with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who described the visit as an opportunity to "engage directly on key issues for both our nations."
CCP Premier Li Qiang has finished meeting with business leaders in Perth, including leaders of mining giants Rio Tinto and BHP.
Western Australia is one of Australia's major mining hubs, and is the home of the iron ore industry.
Mr. Li has ended his tour, claiming the Australia-China relationship had been "consolidated."
In an interview with Nova 93.7 Perth talking about the premier's visit, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stated there had been "a lot of pro-Chinese people" in Canberra yesterday.
However, many of these people the prime minister referred to were incentivised to attend in return for money.
Footage recorded by Chinese defector, simply known as "Eric," shows a conversation he had with a few of the "pro-Chinese" people in Canberra.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Western Australia plays a pivotal role in creating jobs for Australians, building economic ties in the Indo-Pacific, contributing to the Australia-China trade relations, and "shaping our region and our world in the decades ahead."
He noted that three-quarters of Australia’s exports to China come from WA, while nearly 60 percent of everything that WA exports goes to China.
"Welcoming an international visitor to our shores is an opportunity to showcase Australia’s qualities, our people’s values and our economy’s strengths. So it’s fitting that Western Australia is playing such a prominent role in this week’s visit by the Premier of China," he wrote in an opinion article published in The West Australian.
Simon Birmingham, the opposition foreign affairs spokesman, has criticised officials of the Chinese embassy for blocking Australian journalist Cheng Lei from appearing on camera during a press event on June 17.
He said this was an "entirely counterproductive and inappropriate act" that "should've been called out by our Prime Minister and government officials."
"It is a reminder that we have two very different systems, the Chinese system and the Australian system, different systems of government."
CCP Premier Li Qiang has travelled to Perth—the last stop of his four-day trip in Australia.
Mr. Li will tour a lithium plant in Perth before attending an Australia-China CEO roundtable event.
He will meet with business leaders during the event, including representatives from conglomerate company Wesfarmers, mining firm Rio Tinto, ANZ and Fortescue, and discuss economic opportunities between China and Australia.
Monday, June 17
Amnesty International Australia (AIA) has raised concerns about the behaviour of pro-CCP supporters who "intimated and attempted to silence peaceful demonstrators" at Parliament lawns in Canberra.
In a news alert released on June 17, the organisation defended the right to protest "without fear of violence or reprisal" of Chinese human rights activists, Falun Gong practitioners, along with Australia's Tibetan, Uyghur and Hong Konger communities, during Beijing Premier Li Qiang’s visit.
The behaviour of pro-CCP activists, such as physically harassing anti-CCP protesters and blocking banners raising awareness about the CCP's religious persecution from view, "poses a threat to the right of protest in Australia," the AIA noted.
Chinese-born Australian journalist and comedian Vicky Xu said she was injured during her encounter with the police when participating in an anti-CCP protest near Parliament House.
Ms. Xu, who's known for her reports on China's human rights abuses, said the Australia Federal Police (AFP) told Chen Yonglin, a former CCP diplomat who defected to Australia, that he couldn't burn the CCP flag.
While Chen was preparing to heed the advice, the police "insisted on confiscating the flag" and later attempted to take the flag by force, Ms. Xu said.
Chinese embassy officials appear to have blocked Chinese-born Australian journalist Cheng Lei from appearing on camera at a signing event at Parliament House during Chinese Premier Li Qiang's visit.
Footage on X showed a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official standing between Ms. Cheng and the camera, preventing her from being filmed.
An Australian official tried to remove him but the CCP official remained in place.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that he and CCP Premier Li Qiang agreed to improve communication between the two militaries.
"One of the very practical measures that we spoke about was improving military to military communication so as to avoid incidents," he told reporters.
They agreed on the idea, however, the exact details of how it would work in practice will be laid out in a future meeting, the prime minister later added.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has repeatedly lauded the rebuilding of dialogue and engagement between the Australian government and the CCP.
Addressing the state lunch welcoming Premier Li Qiang, Mr. Albanese painted a very optimistic, hopeful future of cooperation.
"We wont always agree, and the points on which we disagree won’t simply disappear if we leave them in silence," he told the attendees.
Premier Li Qiang said the relationship with Australia was "back on track," a phrase he used over the weekend when touching down in Adelaide.
He also offered some more details on the MOUs that were signed just prior to the press conference.
In addition to the areas of increased cooperation that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese mentioned, Mr. Li said both countries will increase exchanges in science and technology, sports, academia, aviation, health, and tourism.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has finished closed door talks with CCP Premier Li Qiang.
Mr. Albanese revealed that that through a number of new MOUs (memorandum of understandings) and agreements, both countries will increase cooperation in areas such as climate change, trade, and education and research.
He reiterated that Australia will "cooperate with China where we can, disagree where we must, and engage in the national interest."
Defence expert Michael Shoebridge has criticised the "surreal scene" of wire enclosures and security in Canberra amid the premier's official visit.
"Even visits by the most security conscious U.S. presidents have had nothing like the enormous wire cages that the Australian government has set up to greet this Chinese Communist Party (CCP) official," he told The Epoch Times via email.
He was also critical of local CCP diplomats, who "clothed, equipped, and transported" thousands of Chinese nationals living in Australia to the nation's capital to create the illusion that Premier Li was "celebrated and welcomed."
Premier Li Qiang has arrived at the Parliament House in Canberra and is now standing with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on a podium during the national anthems of Australia and the CCP.
On the lawns outside Parliament House, hundreds of people, including Falun Gong practitioners, Tibetans, Uyghur, and Hong Kong democratic movements, continue to protest.
Pro-CCP supporters are also present beating drums and waving bright red communist flags.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will meet with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Canberra in the annual leaders’ meeting in the morning.
According to a speech note released to media in advance, the Australian PM will raise security and human rights issues, including a recent incident in which an Australian diver was targeted by Chinese sonar in international waters.
The Labor government is also seeking to get rid of the trade block imposed on the export of Australian lobsters to China, which is the last Australian exports that face restrictions by Beijing.
Sunday, June 16
The Epoch Times has obtained footage of a pro-CCP protestor interfering with a local cameraman to prevent him filming the arrival of Premier Li.
In the footage, the elderly Chinese man can be seen blocking the camera lens with a large Australian flag.
The cameraman confronts the protestor, who in turn starts yelling at the media professional.
Mr. Li has landed in Canberra.
He will meet with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton on Monday.
Touching down in Canberra, Mr. Li was again greeted with banners from human rights demonstrators and Chinese flags.
Adelaide zoo's current panda duo, Wang Wang and Fu Ni, will be returned to China by the end of the year, the CCP premier said in an announcement.
The giant pandas have been on loan for 15 years, since 2009.
Over the years, the zoo has tried to bread the pair through both natural and artificial methods, however, none have succeeded.
The CCP premier's visit in Adelaide today was met with protests, where he visited Adelaide zoo to discuss the two pandas currently residing there.
Banners protesting the CCP's human rights abuses in China can also be seen in the capital of Australia, Canberra, where Mr. Li will head to later today.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong described Taiwan one of the "riskiest flashpoints in the world."
Meanwhile, Australia's long-standing, bipartisan position on Taiwan is to maintain the status quo, Ms. Wong said.
"The status quo is the best path for us to maintain peace and stability in Indo-Pacific and in the world," she told ABC Insiders.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong said Australia is in a "state of permanent contest in the Pacific."
Her comments came in response to questions about Australia's concerns about the CCP's efforts to increase its influence and presence in the region.
After Premier Li Qiang returns to China, Ms. Wong and six other ministers, including Defence Minister Richard Marles, will head to Port Moresby for the 30th Australia-Papua New Guinea ministerial forum.
Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will be joined by Simon Birmingham and Kevin Hogan, the shadow foreign and trade ministers, respectively, in his meeting with Li Qiang tomorrow.
Speaking on Sky News Australia, Mr. Dutton said he would like to see trade with China increase two-fold.
"But equally, as I say with any partner where we have difficulties, in an honest, open relationship it's important to raise not just the opportunities but the grievances and the concerns that we have," he said.
The Epoch Times has obtained footage of a CCP flag waving supporter continuously pushing and jostling a human rights demonstrator.
Police restrained the man a few times, however, he was allowed to remain, and continued to bump the Falun Gong practitioner, who at one point falls to the ground.
"It happened so quickly. He blocked our way, and I wanted to push him away," the human rights demonstrator in the footage told The Epoch Times.
During Premier Li's visit, Amnesty International has called on the Australian government not to lose sight of human rights.
The group said communities were right to be concerned that human rights could be overlooked for trade and economic ties.
"The past 30 years of the Australia-China economic relationship have often seen economic interests overshadow human rights. It’s crucial for the Australian government to demonstrate a commitment to upholding human rights and seeking accountability as part of renewing and repairing its relationship with China," the group wrote in a statement.
Premier Li has arrived in Adelaide on June 15 as he began his four-day tour of Australia.
Mr. Li, was greeted by Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and South Australia Premier Peter Malinauskas at the Adelaide Airport.
Mr. Li, who’s the second- highest ranking Chinese official, will meet with South Australian winegrowers—the country's largest wine growing industry—whose products began to enter China again after Beijing removed its trade blocks in April.
Premier Li has visited the headquarters of Fonterra, New Zealand’s largest exporter of dairy products.
Mr. Li was accompanied by New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and other officials.
During the event, the Chinese premier was shown Fonterra food service, ingredients, milking systems, and genetic innovations.
Sources also told The Epoch Times that not everyone holding pro-Beijing banners was a genuine supporter of the regime, as some participated because they were financially motivated.
One rallygoer, who came voluntarily to protest against the Chinese regime's human rights abuses, said that a pro-CCP campaigner asked her how much she had been paid to come out and participate. The pro-CCP campaigner then said that if the anti-CCP side offered him $300, he would "change his clothes immediately," implying that he would switch allegiance for compensation.
The Epoch Times was unable to independently verify this claim.
An individual from the pro-CCP crowd, gathered to welcome CCP Premier Li Qiang in Auckland, appears to have slashed a banner held by Falun Gong practitioners carrying the group's message about the persecution they face in China.
Hundreds of people were gathered outside the Cordis Hotel in Auckland on June 14.
Pro-CCP groups held banners to welcome the premier, while adherents of the Falun Gong meditation practice held banners that read, "Stop forced live organ harvesting in China,” and “China ≠ Chinese Communist Party.”
Police in Canberra have issued an alert for "planned traffic disruptions" on June 16 and 17.
"On Sunday afternoon (16 June 2024) police will be managing the arrival of a guest of the Australian government. Traffic disruptions will occur between Canberra Airport and the Parliamentary Triangle," ACT Policing said in a statement.
"On Monday (17 June 2024), motorcade movements will occur in the Parliamentary precinct extending to Yarralumla, and then to the Canberra Airport.
Opposition Foreign Minister Simon Birmingham says the Albanese Labor government must discuss with Premier Li, Beijing's role in global events, including its support for Russia and Iran.
"China, in fact, undertakes military exercises with those countries and offers support rather than reining them in. So, we need to be clear about that," he told Sky News.
"Regional concerns, particularly the way China's own military engages in the region and the dangerous situation they put Australian troops in, as well as those of the Philippines, as well as other circumstances where the great risk of miscalculation," the senator said, in reference to incidents in the South China Sea.
Behind the scenes, work is underway to mobilise local Chinese community members to come out en masse to support the CCP leader's visit to Australia with thousands expected to show up.
Premier Li Qiang has been greeted by human rights rallies during his visit to New Zealand including members of the faith group, Falun Gong. Falun Gong has endured 25 years of persecution under the CCP regime, including arbitrary detentions, torture, and forced organ harvesting.
He is also expected to be met with members of the Tibetan, Uyghur, and Hong Kong pro-democracy movement.
On June 13, the New Zealand Luxon government committed to improving trade ties with China, earmarking growth in infant formula and kiwi berry exports.
Food Safety Minister Andrew Hoggard said this is a "strong demonstration of the trust and confidence" Chinese consumers have in New Zealand's infant formula and food safety systems.
New Zealand infant formula exports to China reached more than $1 billion in the year to June 30, 2023.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand—Chinese Communist Party (CCP) Premier Li Qiang has held talks with New Zealand ministers and Prime Minister Christopher Luxon, in Wellington on June 13 but refused to take questions after making a brief statement.
Speaking to reporters after the event, the prime minister said while trade had the primary focus of talks, he had raised concerns about Beijing's interference in and around New Zealand.
"We’ve been pretty upfront about foreign interference ... we have no tolerance for foreign interference from any country," Mr. Luxon said. He added that AUKUS had been discussed.