Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Australia on Sunday was marked by positive bilateral engagements, highlighting shared initiatives such as the giant panda loan program and a revitalized wine trade. During his tour, Li Keqiang paid a special visit to Adelaide Zoo where he checked in on Wang Wang, an 18-year-old male panda already on loan to Australia. He described Wang Wang as “very pretty, adorable, with charming naivety,” underscoring the significance of cultural and environmental exchanges between China and Australia.
Li Keqiang’s itinerary also included discussions aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation despite existing geopolitical challenges. He emphasized the importance of setting aside differences and focusing on collaborative efforts, symbolized by the announcement of a new breeding pair of giant pandas for Adelaide Zoo. This gesture not only strengthens the longstanding panda diplomacy between the two countries but also reaffirms commitments to wildlife conservation and cultural exchange.
Furthermore, Li Keqiang’s visit coincided with developments in the Australian wine industry, which has seen a resurgence following the lifting of substantial tariffs earlier in the year. This economic boost underscores the potential for mutual benefit in trade relations between China and Australia, reflecting broader efforts to foster sustainable economic ties amidst global uncertainties.
In summary, Premier Li Keqiang’s visit to Australia underscored diplomatic goodwill and economic cooperation, highlighted by commitments to panda conservation and the rejuvenated wine trade, signaling a positive turn in bilateral relations despite ongoing challenges.
Li Qiang was notably impressed by the 18-year-old male panda Wang Wang’s insatiable appetite and seemingly indifferent attitude towards his esteemed visitors during his visit to the panda enclosure.
“The panda is very obsessed with eating and doesn’t pay attention to us even when we, the people from its hometown, are visiting,” Li remarked, observing Wang Wang’s behavior with amusement and admiration.
Li expressed his appreciation for how Wang Wang has fully embraced Adelaide Zoo as its second home, describing the panda as “very pretty, adorable, with charming naivety.”
Wang Wang and his companion Fu Ni are the only pandas in the Southern Hemisphere but have not successfully produced offspring during their time in Australia.
Foreign Minister Penny Wong extended her gratitude to Li for ensuring that pandas remain a cherished attraction at the zoo, highlighting the positive economic impact on South Australian jobs and tourism, while also symbolizing goodwill between China and Australia.
Tom King, the managing director of Penfolds, emphasized the significance of high-level visits like Li’s in strengthening economic and cultural ties between the two nations. He noted the recent improvements in China-Australia relations under Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s leadership, marking Li’s visit as the first by a Chinese premier in seven years.
Li’s visit, which included a stop at Adelaide and upcoming visits to Canberra and a lithium processing plant in Western Australia, underscores efforts to stabilize and enhance bilateral relations despite past tensions. These efforts include resolving trade impediments and engaging in constructive dialogue on strategic and human rights issues.
Australia’s stance on critical minerals and foreign investment, particularly in the context of China’s interest in battery-grade lithium hydroxide production, reflects its strategic alignment with global renewable energy transitions and national security concerns.
Li’s tour, which began in New Zealand and will conclude in Malaysia, signifies ongoing efforts to strengthen diplomatic and economic ties across the Asia-Pacific region.