Coalition blunders have left countries locked in ‘permanent contest’ over Pacific, minister says

• What is on the agenda for Chinese premier’s visit to Australia?
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China’s second-most powerful leader has announced that the “twists and turns” in Australia-China relations are over – and invited Australian officials to pick a new pair of pandas for Adelaide’s zoo.

But Penny Wong chose to highlight the tensions that remain in the relationship before a series of talks with Premier Li Qiang, who arrived in Australia on Saturday evening and was met by protesters outside the zoo on Sunday.

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Li’s four-day visit, the first by a Chinese premier since 2017, is expected to feature panda diplomacy, Indo-Pacific security discussions and trade talks

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China’s premier, Li Qiang, will arrive in Australia on Saturday for a four-day visit that will include stops in Adelaide, Canberra and Perth.

It is the first visit to Australia by a Chinese premier since 2017, and marks the latest step in “stabilising” a relationship that hit rock bottom in 2020.

The number of asylum seekers at the centre has been slowly growing, with fears they will spend years trapped on the island

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“We don’t know how long we will be here, what will happen to us. Our situation is very difficult.”

Mohammad Bashir Anjum, a Pakistani asylum seeker held on Nauru for four months, is one of the few able to make contact outside the island.

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