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ANDREA CROTHERS, HOST: China, obviously more aggression occurring again, are you concerned this will inflame trade tensions?
ANTHONY ALBANESE, PRIME MINISTER: We need to make sure that we have a mature response. We’ve indicated very clearly that this is unprofessional and unacceptable. We’ve communicated that very directly to Beijing and through Canberra as well. We’ll continue to do that. But I was asked earlier today, “will that mean that, you know, you don’t talk to the Chinese Premier who is due to come here?” And I said that dialogue is always important. It’s important we communicate, whether that be communicating areas of agreement or areas of disagreement. We know that there are differences between the Australian and the Chinese political system. But it is important that we’re able to have that dialogue to have that communication. Because out of that comes understanding and we know the alternative. The former Government couldn’t have a phone conversation, let alone meetings. But we will, I’ve said, we’ll agree with China where we can, we’ll disagree where we must, but we will engage in our national interest.
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Source: Office of the Australian Prime Minister
Speaker: The Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, Prime Minister of Australia
Format: Interview
China Policy Research 