Jodie Haydon

here’s a 100% unique version of the article,preserving all verifiable facts and presented with a breaking-news lead:

Australia-China Relations Strengthen as US Ties Appear to Cool

CANBERRA,Australia – australian Prime minister Anthony Albanese has signaled a deepening of ties with China,emphasizing shared interests in free trade and a stable international order,even as relations with the United States appear to be experiencing a widening gap. The comments come amid ongoing trade disputes and a perceived shift in global alliances.

During a recent meeting, Chinese President Xi Jinping stated that both China and Australia had learned that equal treatment, seeking common ground, and pursuing cooperation serve the interests of both nations. Xi, speaking through an interpreter, urged that this direction be upheld nonetheless of international developments, a statement widely seen as a veiled reference to U.S. tariffs.

Prime Minister Albanese responded positively, welcoming increased cooperation under the decade-old bilateral free trade agreement between Australia and China. He affirmed Australia’s commitment to “free and fair trade.”

Tho, the article notes a discrepancy regarding U.S. tariffs. While the United States has imposed a minimum 10% tariff on U.S. imports,Australia contends that these tariffs are unjustified,pointing to a long-standing trade surplus enjoyed by the U.S. with Australia.

The potential economic impact on Australia from a Chinese economic downturn, exacerbated by U.S. tariffs, is also highlighted. approximately one-third of australian exports are destined for China.

James Laurenceson, director of the University of Technology Sydney’s Australia-China Relations Institute, characterized China’s portrayal of itself as an ally in defending free trade as “self-serving.” He elaborated that the current dynamic is less about Australia aligning with China and more about both countries agreeing on a shared interest in the existing international system, with the U.S. reportedly moving away from it. Laurenceson suggested that the important development this week is not Australia drawing closer to China, but rather the increasing distance between Australia and the United states.

Albanese’s political opponents have criticized his engagement with Xi, noting four face-to-face meetings, including two in Beijing, while Prime Minister Albanese has yet to meet U.S. President Donald Trump in person. A planned one-on-one meeting between albanese and Trump at a Group of Seven summit in Canada last month was reportedly canceled when the U.S. president departed early.

Albanese expressed his expectation of meeting Trump this year, stating, “I look forward to a constructive engagement with president Trump. We have had three constructive phone conversations.”

McGuirk contributed to this report from Melbourne, Australia.