Anthony Albanese has finished his China trip with glowing reviews by Chinese state media about his meeting with President Xi Jinping. The final leg of the trip has been dominated by symbolic gestures as Albanese visited the Chengdu Research Centre for Giant Panda Breeding.

Chengdu

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has wrapped up a six-day visit to China, emphasizing the importance of soft diplomacy and trade relations. The visit included a tour of Chengdu's Panda Breeding Research Facility, where the Prime Minister and his fiancée met Fu Ni, a panda that previously lived at Adelaide Zoo. Australia remains the only country in the southern hemisphere with Chinese pandas on loan, symbolizing ongoing cultural and diplomatic ties.

While the trip showcased Australia's achievements in medical technology and aimed to strengthen bilateral relations, several contentious issues remain. There were no new assurances from China regarding its military activities in the Indo-Pacific, nor updates on the case of jailed Australian writer Dr. Yang Hengjun. The opposition questioned the tangible outcomes of the visit, but the Prime Minister defended the trip as a success focused on diplomacy, trade, and tourism.

Prime Minister concludes China trip on good terms

They call it Panda Diplomacy. This guy here is clearly feeling the friendship between Australia and China. And today it was as clear as day, in black and white. I never knew that putting bunches together efficiency, this is productivity. Prime Minister and fiancee Jodi Hayden touring Chengdu's Panda Breeding Research Facility, meeting a familiar face, Fu Ni, the panda from Sichuan called Adelaide Zoo home for nearly 15 years. Fu Ni, a great ambassador for China and a great friend of Australia. With Australia the only country in the southern hemisphere to have Chinese pandas on loan. While no new pandas, today's importance of the visit is more about the soft power beyond the meetings in the Grand Halls and with government officials. It is things like this, pandas, that will strengthen the relationship between Australia and China. Sightseeing aside, the PM this afternoon talked up medical technology. Australia is the second largest producer of medtech patents, worth billions. Breakthroughs made in Australia bring new hope and better health to people all over the world. But as this six day visit comes to an end, tonight questions over the success of the Prime Minister's trip. With no real assurances from China on its aggressive military presence in the Indo-Pacific. Why wasn't there an apology from the People's Republic Navy for the live firing exercises off our shore? The Port of Darwin. When is this going to occur? What is the time frame? Or the future of jailed Australian writer, Dr Young-Hen Jun. When he's finished with the giant pandas, he does need to come back to Australia. He's got some explaining to do. Their constant negativity. They need to stop looking for reasons to say they're against and decide what they're for. And Matthew Kastunin joins us now live from Chengdu, Matt. The PM has all but wrapped up this tour of China. And while it looked like a bit of fun, has he actually achieved anything? Good evening, Sandra. Well, it really depends on who you ask. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says this six-day visit was a success. And the clear themes that we saw throughout this visit was a soft touch. Soft diplomacy. Trade. Tourism. But of course, the PM was unable to avoid those questions about those stickier points in the relationship with China, including defence, the South China Sea and all of those defence issues. But it will be very important to see how that plays out domestically. Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will head to Canberra ahead of Tuesday, which will see Parliament resume. He will have a much different playbook this time around, a much larger mandate as well. That'll be the focus. But a success so far, the opposition says it was a little luxurious, but the PM's knocking back those suggestions. Sandra? Matthew Kastunin there, travelling with the PM. Thank you.

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