Australian and Chinese leaders seek to boost trade despite differences on other issues

BEIJING AP The leaders of Australia and China sought to deepen commerce ties despite their differences over regional guard and human rights at talks Tuesday in the Chinese capital Chinese leader Xi Jinping informed Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that seeking common ground while setting aside differences is in line with the fundamental interests of our two countries and our two peoples Albanese concurred with Xi s remark saying That approach has indeed produced very positive benefits for both Australia and for China Australia like multiple countries in the Asia-Pacific region is caught between China and the United States Its business sector is heavily dependent on exports to China including iron ore for the steel industry It also shares America s concerns with China s human rights record and its growing military activity in the Pacific including in waters near Australia Albanese has sought to repair Australia s relationship with China since his vote in One in four of our jobs depends upon commerce he explained at a news conference in Shanghai on Monday He noted Australia s efforts to diversify its business by expanding ties with Southeast Asian nations such as Indonesia and Singapore Albanese is in Beijing at the midpoint of a weeklong trip to China that started in Shanghai China s commercial capital where establishment and business leaders from the two countries discussed deepening cooperation in tourism and reducing carbon emissions in iron ore mining and steel production Source