Albanese in Beijing to mend ties

Gesture of goodwill: Albanese posing for pictures in front of the Temple of Heaven in Beijing. — AP

AUSTRALIAN Prime Minister Anthony Albanese stopped by Beijing’s Temple of Heaven as he followed in the footsteps of the first Australian leader to visit China, retracing a walk made five decades ago as ties were being established.

Albanese, the first by an Australian leader since 2016, hopes to mend relations between the trading partners with his visit after tensions in recent years over issues from security worries to the origin of Covid-19 triggered Chinese blocks on Australian products including wine, barley and beef.