Anthony Albanese's visit to China included a 'very positive' meeting with Xi Jinping and a refusal to budge on some issues

Australioan Broadcasting ^

[FarCenter]

Anthony Albanese is wrapping up his whirlwind three-day trip in China, aimed at stabilising ties between the two countries.

On Tuesday, he was given a ceremonial welcome at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, after a "very positive" meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday night.

The elaborate ceremony in the cavernous Great Hall of the People featured an enormous military guard of at least 100 personnel from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) while the band played the Australian anthem.

He then held bilateral talks with his official host, Premier Li Qiang, who is considered China's second in charge.

While there have been few concrete announcements from the summit, it's clear Mr Albanese feels his trip to Shanghai and Beijing has been a great success.

The visit also drew lots of attention within China, with Mr Albanese gracing the front page of Communist party mouth pieces, The China Daily and The Global Times, which noted that "China-Australia relations are defrosting in the spotlight".

"On our way into the hall I shared with you that I see on social media of China that there are many sharing videos about your trip to China — including your speech, including the video of you running along the river with a yellow jersey," Mr Li told Mr Albanese.

From a refusal to budge on certain issues to symbolism and plenty of talk about friendship, these are the key takeaways from the visit.

The visit was dripping with symbolism

Li and Albanese to resume annual talks

The trade relationship is well and truly out of the deep freeze

There was plenty of talk of friendship, but there are still some trust issues

Albanese doesn't want Australia to be the US and China's go-between

Australia won't budge on some issues and neither will China