Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Monday that a "healthy and stable" relationship with Australia served the interests of both countries, and that it was important to extend the strategic relationship.
Mutual benefit is what China wants, Xi told Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the first Australian leader to visit Beijing since 2016, when the two met at the Great Hall of the People in the center of the Chinese capital.
A strong relationship between China and Australia "will be beneficial in the future," Albanese told Xi in their meeting.
During his visit, Albanese tried to mend relations between the two countries after disagreements in recent years over issues ranging from security concerns to the origins of COVID-19 - which has led to China's restrictions on Australian products including alcohol, barley, and beef.
On Monday, Albanese stopped off in Beijing, following in the footsteps of the first Australian leader to visit China five decades ago when diplomatic ties were being built.
For decades, China and Australia have built a relationship through trade, with Beijing becoming Canberra's biggest commercial partner with purchases of Australian food and natural resources.
However, the relationship deteriorated after Australia in 2017 accused China of meddling in its politics. The following year, Australia banned equipment from Chinese technology company Huawei Technologies Co for its 5G network on national security grounds.
But Albanese took steps to stabilize relations after becoming prime minister in May last year and meeting Xi on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia in November.
China quickly reduced trade barriers, allowing coal imports in January and ending wheat tariffs in August. Last month, Beijing agreed to review a 218% port tariff on Australian liquor.
