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Speaking at a press conference in Canberra on Monday, Albanese said Australia “doesn’t respond to demands” when asked about a statement by China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who has listed four “actions” by which Australia could improve its relationship with Beijing.

Among those were the need for Australia to view China as a “partner rather than a rival”, seeking common ground “while reserving differences” and not “being controlled by any third party”. Wang made his statement after he met Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Friday, the first such meeting between the two nations’ top diplomats since 2019.