Anthony Albanese to meet Xi Jinping in Beijing

The news: Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says he is looking forward to further constructive dialogue after arriving in Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The numbers: Albanese has become the first Australian prime minister to visit China in seven years, part of efforts to smooth relations that had deteriorated over several years. He is in China for a four-day trip that started on Saturday.

The context: Albanese will meet with Xi at the Great Hall of the People on Monday evening. Speaking in Shanghai earlier on the first day of his trip, he reaffirmed Australia's support for rules-based trade and said Australia will continue to work constructively with China. Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who opened a major trade show, has pledged Beijing's support for international rules and rejecting protectionism. Albanese has not ruled out backing China's application to join the 12-nation Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership.