Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese arrived in Shanghai, beginning a six-day tour across three Chinese cities, with discussions expected to focus on regional security concerns and strengthening economic relations.
This marks Albanese’s second visit to China, where he is scheduled to meet President Xi Jinping. The trip comes as Australia tightens scrutiny of Chinese investments in critical minerals and amid growing global economic uncertainty due to sweeping tariffs introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Here is a summary of key developments in Australia-China relations in recent years:
Nov 2014: Australia finalises a landmark free trade agreement with China after a decade of talks, which takes effect in 2015.
Dec 2017: In response to concerns over foreign influence, Australia bans political donations from abroad.
Aug 2018: Huawei is barred from providing equipment for Australia’s 5G network due to security concerns.
Apr 2020: Australia calls for an independent probe into COVID-19’s origins. China’s ambassador warns of boycotts targeting Australian wine, beef, and tourism.
Jun 2020: China cautions students about studying in Australia, citing racism, threatening a major education export market.
Aug 2020: Australian journalist Cheng Lei is detained in China.
Nov 2020: China imposes anti-dumping tariffs on Australian wine and restricts imports of lobster, timber, and barley. Its embassy issues a list of 14 grievances, including blocked Chinese investments.
May 2022: Albanese’s Labor Party wins the federal election, ending nearly ten years of conservative governance.
Nov 2022: Albanese meets Xi on the sidelines of the G20, their first leaders’ meeting since 2016.
Jan 2023: China allows select companies to resume coal imports from Australia.
Aug 2023: Tariffs on Australian barley are removed.
Oct 2023: Cheng Lei is released from prison after three years in detention.
Oct 2023: China agrees to review its 218% tariffs on Australian wine, prompting Australia to pause a WTO case.
Nov 2023: During his Beijing visit, Albanese tells Xi and Premier Li that strong bilateral ties are vital for the future. Xi echoes the sentiment, calling for deeper cooperation.
Jan 2024: Australia pushes back against China’s attempts to shift blame over a naval incident that injured Australian divers near Japan.
Feb 2024: Australian writer Yang Hengjun is given a suspended death sentence after five years in detention.
Mar 2024: China lifts wine tariffs, spurring renewed imports.
Dec 2024: Final restrictions on Australian beef are removed; China resumes lobster imports.
Dec 2024: Australia funds rugby league in Papua New Guinea in exchange for the island nation avoiding security ties with China.
Feb 2025: Foreign Minister Penny Wong criticises China for giving insufficient notice about a live-fire naval drill that disrupted civilian air traffic near Australia and New Zealand.
May 2025: Albanese secures a second term as prime minister following national elections.
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The explosion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday afternoon killed at least 12 people and injured a further 309, according to Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority. The airport remains closed until further notice.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a new attack Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
Russia has violated an energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday, urging Washington to step in to ensure that Moscow abided by the terms of the putative agreement.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 12 October 2026 with the top five natural disasters happening around the world.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukraine is ready to respect the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, but only if Russia does the same, saying Moscow has already violated the agreement.
China has announced sanctions against Belize’s foreign minister and Paraguay’s communications minister over their countries’ diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The move comes as Beijing continues to pressure the few remaining nations that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.
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