AUSTRALIA-Xi Calls For Australian Vigilance In Averting Asia-Pac 'Chaos'

(MNI) London - Chinese state media reporting comments from President Xi Jinping towards Australian PM Anthony Albanese as the latter visits Beijing for talks with Chinese leaders. Xi: "Your visit this time is highly significant as it builds on the past and ushers in the future....A healthy, stable China-Australia relationship serves common interest of our two countries...Important we keep moving forward comprehensive strategic partnership between our two countries."

• Xi: "China and Australia should enhance mutual understanding and trust in peaceful coexistence....China and Australia should fully tap into the potential of the China-Australia free trade agreement...China is willing to engage in more tripartite and multi-party cooperation with Australia to support South Pacific countries."
• Xi: "Australia must be vigilant against and oppose any attempt to throw the Asia-Pacific region into chaos."
• Last week, Albanese was in Washington, D.C., "where President Joe Biden warned the Australian leader to “trust, but verify” anything Beijing told him during the trip."
• The warm words from Xi would appear to point towards a continued upswing in relations with Australia, which have improved since Albanese took over from China-hawk PM Scott Morrison.