Chinese Premier and Australian Prime Minister Pledge to Expand Strategic Trade and Green Cooperation

Premier Li Qiang and PM Anthony Albanese discuss upgrading free trade agreements and deepening cooperation in clean energy and NEVs for APEC 2026.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 8, 2026, 7:59 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from CGTN

Strengthening Bilateral Trade Ties

Chinese Premier Li Qiang underscored China's commitment to an open market, expressing a strong desire to increase imports of high-quality Australian products. During a phone call with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Li proposed expanding and upgrading bilateral trade based on market principles. Central to this strategy is the acceleration of a review of the existing bilateral free trade agreement. Both leaders agreed that an upgraded institutional framework is necessary to provide stronger support for enterprises and promote win-win outcomes for both economies.

Focus on Green Sector Innovation

A significant portion of the discussion centered on the "green sector," which Li identified as an area of immense potential. China expressed readiness to leverage its complementary strengths with Australia to deepen collaboration in several key areas:

Clean Energy: Development and sharing of renewable technologies.

New Energy Vehicles (NEVs): Enhancing the supply chain for electric and sustainable transport.