Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Sunday that China’s Premier Li Qiang is expected to visit Australia next year, with a potential stop at Uluru, the iconic monolith in central Australia.
“Premier Li will visit Australia next year, we’ve discussed that,” Albanese told Sky News, according to an official transcript. He added that Li expressed interest in visiting Uluru, and Albanese welcomed the idea, noting it would be a great opportunity to showcase Central Australia to more than a billion people.
Uluru, a UNESCO World Heritage site standing 348 metres tall, is famous for its deep red-ochre hues and is a major tourist attraction despite its remote desert location near Alice Springs in the Northern Territory. The landmark is sacred to the Anangu people, its Indigenous custodians.
Albanese’s remarks followed a meeting with Li on the sidelines of ASEAN in Malaysia, where he raised concerns over a recent encounter between a Chinese fighter jet and an Australian maritime patrol aircraft. China’s official Xinhua news agency reported that Li said China is ready to build a more stable and strategic partnership with Australia.
Li, who holds China’s No. 2 post, last visited Australia in 2024, marking a period of improved relations between the U.S. ally and the world’s second-largest economy. It was the first visit by a Chinese premier to Australia since 2017. China remains Australia’s largest trading partner, with the bulk of trade dominated by Australian resources and energy exports.
