TL;DR
Li Qiang advocates for a more mature, stable, and productive comprehensive strategic partnership with Australia based on mutual benefit.
Key Points
Voiced China's readiness to build a more mature, stable, and productive China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership on October 27, 2025.
Attended the 8th Australia-China CEO Roundtable Meeting on July 15, 2025, stressing deeper cooperation is necessary in the current environment.
Hopes that Australia will provide a fair, open, and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises operating in the country.
Summary
Premier Li Qiang views Australia as a major economic and trade partner, emphasizing that the two countries are natural cooperative partners due to highly complementary economic structures and broad prospects for cooperation. He expressed China's readiness to expand and deepen bilateral cooperation, aiming for higher-level mutual benefit, especially in areas like clean energy, high-tech research and development, and agricultural products. This stance was articulated during meetings with the Australian Prime Minister, where joint outcomes were signed across trade, customs, and agriculture, signaling a commitment to stabilizing ties.
He has stressed the importance of governmental and enterprise alignment to promote development, expecting Australia to provide a fair, open, and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese enterprises investing there. Concurrently, Li Qiang hopes that China will be treated equally, with its enterprises' rights protected in Australia. He also emphasized strengthening coordination within multilateral frameworks like the WTO and APEC to uphold the rules-based trading system, indicating a pragmatic approach to managing the relationship amid global economic uncertainties.
Key Quotes
China ready to build more stable strategic communication with Australia, expand mutually beneficial cooperation and keep working together to build a more mature, stable and productive China-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership.
China is ready to work with Australia to fully utilize various dialogue mechanisms such as the Strategic Economic Dialogue, the Joint Economic Commission, and to actively explore ways to advance the review and upgrading of the bilateral free trade agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Li Qiang's main goal is to build a more mature, stable, and productive comprehensive strategic partnership with Australia. He seeks to expand mutually beneficial cooperation to bring greater benefits to both peoples. This requires maintaining strategic communication and strengthening alignment of development strategies.
Yes, the public tone and engagement level suggest an evolution towards stabilization. Following previous difficulties, Li Qiang has actively engaged in high-level meetings to deepen cooperation. His recent statements indicate a strong push to keep bilateral ties on the right track.
He highlights cooperation in energy and mineral resources, agricultural products, green development, and scientific and technological innovation, including AI and life sciences. He also called for joint efforts in clean energy, electric vehicles, and energy storage to build a resilient green industrial chain.
Sources7
Li Qiang and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Jointly Attend the 8th Australia-China CEO Roundtable Meeting
China ready to build more stable strategic partnership with Australia -- premier
China ready to build 'more mature and stable' ties with Australia: Premier Li Qiang
Australia PM says China's Premier Li Qiang to visit Australia in 2026
Premier Li's visit continues stabilisation of relationship with China
Foreign Minister Penny Wong on the significance of Premier Li's visit to Australia
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.